*Warning: This chapter contains mature scene it might disturb some readers
The moon hung high, an opalescent disc glowing softly over the tiled roofs of the Ji-Gong Palace. The air was quiet, save for the distant rustle of silk banners and the chirr of nocturnal insects. General Xuè Lián stood alone on the marbled balcony of her court chamber, her long jet-black hair whispering in the wind. Clad in a silver robe etched with plum blossoms, she stared into the velvet sky, her expression unreadable—sharp yet sorrowful.
A knock came at the lacquered door. She did not turn, only spoke with her usual composed poise, her voice like tempered steel wrapped in silk.
"Enter."
The doors creaked open, and footsteps echoed across the polished floor.
"Are you worrying about something?" came a voice, gentle but warm.
Xuè Lián turned slightly, her gaze falling on Crown Prince Liu Zhenbao. He approached without fanfare, resting an arm casually against the stone balustrade beside her. The moonlight caught in the strands of his hair, silvering them like frost.
"What a beautiful moon we've been gifted tonight," he said, exhaling slowly. "Blooming like a white lotus in the sky."
"Hm." She gave a simple nod, her features calm but distant.
"You seem far away tonight," he ventured, his eyes quietly studying her. "Are you troubled?"
She shook her head gently, her eyes still cast on the stars. "I was just… wondering what she's doing right now."
"You mean Wei Yang Hong," he said with a knowing glance. His tone softened. "Don't worry. She's with the Wolf of Abjannas. She'll be safe."
"I'm not worried for her safety," Xuè Lián murmured, arms crossing her chest, as if to shield herself from a memory. "I worry for our clan. For what she has become. Heaven cursed her for what she was… and now the Emperor wants her dead for what she might still be."
Her voice faltered, the words bitter like frost on the tongue. Her hands trembled faintly as she rubbed her shoulders—more from remembered wounds than the evening chill.
Zhenbao stood quietly beside her, then asked in a low voice, "Will you still be loyal to her?"
Her eyes snapped to him in disbelief. "What?"
"It's just a question," he said, looking away, ashamed. "What he—she—did. To you… and to others. I saw it. I saw everything. And I—" his voice cracked, raw and honest, "—I did nothing. Because I was younger. Weaker. And he was… older. Stronger."
He raised his eyes to the heavens, swallowing down the weight of his guilt. "Maybe this curse is justice. Maybe it's redemption. But if she truly becomes someone new… perhaps she'll finally change. And maybe—just maybe—being a woman will help her understand what she took from others."
Xuè Lián stepped closer, her hand rising gently to touch his cheek. The gesture surprised him; her touch was soft, delicate, like snow brushing against skin.
"It's all right, Zhenbao. You've always been kind to me. I never held your silence against you."
There was a pause. A quiet between them as natural as breath.
Then he asked, almost shyly, "Do you… still love her?"
Xuè Lián hesitated. Her eyes fluttered, cheeks touched by a bashful flush. But her voice was clear.
"No," she said quietly. "There's no love in my heart for her. Only duty. Honour. Perhaps forgiveness, but never love. I will serve her if the heavens will it, but not as a lover. As a friend… who endured."
Liu Zhenbao nodded, and slowly—hesitantly—placed his hand over hers. Her gaze fell to the touch, then to his face, which had softened with something fragile and unspoken.
"I admire your strength," he said. "And… I wish, if you'd allow it, that you would remain by my side. Not as a soldier. But as someone I care for."
Xuè Lián's lips parted in surprise, then curled into a rare, gentle smile. Her voice dropped to a near whisper, shaded with warmth.
"I would like that… very much."
And there, under the moonlight that blanketed the Ji-Gong Palace, the two stood side by side—no longer as warrior and prince, but as two souls carrying old wounds, daring—finally—to speak of new beginnings.
A lantern's flicker casts wavering light across the cave's jagged entrance. The night air, crisp and biting, leaks inside, unsettling campfire embers. Inside, Aleeman Hakiman winces, propping himself up on a flat rock, a long makeshift fire crackling before him. Steam curls from a red-hot dagger he holds aloft, heating it carelessly in the flame.
Shi Zhao Mei sits nearby, her breath shallow. Blood trickles from a wound at her side, partially staunched by her cultivation. Despite her pallor, she manages a wry attempt at banter.
Zhao Mei (softly):
"You're in worse shape than I am, aren't you?"
Aleeman's gaze flickers with pain and amusement as he fans the dagger flame with a trembling hand.
Aleeman:
"Worse, yes. You've only been stabbed twice—once for your troubles from that cursed glass rose. Whereas Liskarm Jee and Lenotes made a… fine tapestry of slashes across my back."
Zhao Mei's lips curve into a small, rueful smile. Her cheeks warm in the firelight.
Zhao Mei (teasing):
"Well, at least I'm not as lacerated as the back of a kangaroo after a dust-up."
Aleeman chuckles softly. He draws the heated dagger from the flame, its steel glowing orange-hot.
Aleeman:
"Here—take this. I'll cauterise your wound."
Zhao Mei eyes the dagger, half-dreadful, half-adoring.
Zhao Mei (feigning bravery):
"Oh, joy. Lead me into further torment, Commander."
She flinches as he guides the blade to her side. A hiss escapes her lips.
Zhao Mei (eyes wide):
"Ow! That's agony—like Hell's own invitation."
Aleeman winces at her pain, meeting her gaze.
Aleeman:
"Well, two wrongs don't make a right—but at least we stop the blood."
Zhao Mei glances at him, noticing fresh bruises and bullet wounds across his torso.
Zhao Mei (concerned):
"You haven't been idle yourself, have you?"
Aleeman (grinning wryly):
"I've paid my dues. But right now... everyone at the academy is fretting about us."
Zhao Mei's expression softens.
Zhao Mei:
"Your sister… Hua-Jing? I'm sure she's beside herself."
Aleeman's gaze drifts upward as he allows himself a moment of affection.
Aleeman:
"Yes. Hua-Jing... always worried. You'd make her worry less."
He gently places the dagger aside and begins to bandage her wound.
Aleeman:
"We'll leave first light tomorrow."
Zhao Mei lets out a small, wry laugh.
Aleeman (light-hearted):
"I must say, didn't see the dragon trick coming. Quite the surprise."
Zhao Mei (shrugging, softly):
"It's... not something I show off casually."
She trails off, her eyes distant.
Aleeman (gently teasing):
"In the morning, we go back to the academy—everybody's on edge."
Zhao Mei lifts a brow.
Zhao Mei:
"And someone's been tracking us. The academy's far."
Aleeman smirks, leaning closer.
Aleeman:
"By dragon, of course. By you."
Zhao Mei blinks, head tilting at his playful confidence.
Zhao Mei (brightening):
"By… me?"
Aleeman:
"Dragon flight—fastest thing on four talons. We'll sweep back before anyone can blink."
He draws back with a self-satisfied grin.
Aleeman:
"Now rest. Tomorrow, we return—together."
She lies back, firelight warm against her skin. "He's a fool... and an anchor. I can ride a dragon, but he... he fights beside me like no legend or curse. Heavens help me, I think I'd follow him anywhere." As she wants to say something but she remains silent.
They settle into an uneasy calm, two wounded hearts burning with warm resolve—sparked by pain, bonded by survival, and fuelled by something infinitely softer: hope.
Next The morning sun glistened across dew-brushed foliage, painting the mountains in hues of amber and jade. From the mouth of the cave, Aleeman Hakiman emerged, stretching stiff shoulders, wincing slightly as the morning chill kissed the fresh scabs across his back.
Behind him stepped Shi Zhao Mei, brushing ash and soot from her sleeves, her expression cool but measured.
Aleeman (smirking faintly):
"Right then. Time to head home. Ready?"
Shi Zhao Mei (flatly):
"Hmmm."
She stepped forward, took one deep breath—and in a sudden ripple of flame and shimmer, her body elongated, limbs stretched, skin shimmering into crimson scales. Wings unfurled like thunderclouds rolling open, her eyes glowing with draconic fire.
A dark-red dragon stood in her place, majestic and menacing, her hide gleaming like rubies soaked in wine.
Aleeman (gawking, blinking):
"...By the Saints."
(he blinked again)
"You don't get less dramatic with time, do you?"
Shi Zhao Mei (in draconic voice, mildly sarcastic):
"What are you staring at, o glorious meat-sack? Get on."
Aleeman (mock salute):
"Yes, Your Scaly Highness."
He hopped up with a grunt, settling between her shoulder ridges.
Shi Zhao Mei (snapping her wings):
"Hold tight—unless you fancy a brief career as mountain jam."
Aleeman (clutching her spike harness):
"Noted. Please avoid barrel rolls."
With one powerful beat of her wings, they launched into the sky, the wind howling past them. The trees below shrank. Mountains rippled like the folds of a wrinkled carpet.
Aleeman (yelling over the wind):
"This is madness!"
Shi Zhao Mei (with dry smugness):
"This is freedom."
Professor Galadriel Anterwyn, paced elegantly in front of a chalk-dusted blackboard covered with arcane glyphs and constellations.
Her voice echoed with melodic command.
Professor Galadriel:
"Now, if the interaction between the fifth glyph and the solar rune matrix is unstable, the result is a volatile auric breach. Miss Whitmore, what would that trigger?"
Genevieve (frantically flipping her notes):
"Uhh…a—er—temporal... combustion?"
Professor Galadriel (arched brow):
"Temporal combustion would be if you added fae-iron. I said glyphs, not fireworks."
Sniggers rippled through the classroom.
Hua-Jing Hakiman, seated by the tall windows, stared blankly at her parchment, quill idle between her fingers. Her shoulders sagged slightly, eyes dull with unease.
She glanced up just as a faint gust rustled the curtains beside her. Something strange—something vast—moved far in the sky.
A shadow. A silhouette.
Like a mighty crimson comet crossing the sun.
Her eyes widened.
Hua-Jing (murmuring):
"No… I'm not imagining this—am I?"
She rubbed her eyes furiously, trying to blink away the illusion.
Professor Galadriel (sharply):
"Hua-Jing!"
Hua-Jing (snapping upright):
"Yes, ma'am!"
Professor Galadriel (frowning):
"If the glyph fractures, what rune should be applied to stabilise it?"
Hua-Jing (stammering):
"...Er, Rune of Binding?"
Professor Galadriel (coolly):
"Correct. But do try to stay mentally in the room. We're not in dreamland, Miss Hakiman."
Hua-Jing (softly):
"Yes, Professor."
She glanced back out the window—but the sky was clear again. Blue, calm, empty.
Her brows pinched together as she whispered to herself:
"It was them. I know it. That was Zhao Mei... and my brother…"
She clutched the hem of her sleeve, heart now pounding with a mix of fear and strange, breathless hope.
The trees parted gently in the breeze, and the morning sun spilled golden rays through the mist-kissed canopy as Aleeman Hakiman leapt down from the back of the dark-red dragon. Shi Zhao Mei, landing beside him, let her mighty form shrink and twist back into her human shape—her eyes returning to soft crimson, her breath a little winded.
Aleeman (exhaling sharply):
"By the heavens, I'll never get used to riding dragons. My backside feels like it's aged fifty years."
Shi Zhao Mei (snorting, dusting ash from her sleeves):
"You're welcome, old man."
He glanced over his shoulder with a grin, then gestured.
"Come on. We're late, and I hate being fashionably mysterious."
Shi Zhao Mei (dryly):
"You do realise we literally escaped a torture dungeon, not a gala."
They jog toward the academy field, Aleeman slowing as he caught his breath. Then—suddenly—
Voice from the distance (gasping):
"Is that… Aleeman and Zhao Mei?!"
Heads turned across the grassy field. Students froze mid-spar and spellwork.
Aleeman (half-wheezing, lifting a hand):
"Hullo! Yes, it's me. Very much alive. Mildly singed. Mostly intact."
Gasps turned to joyous cries as students poured toward them, forming a half-circle. Some clapped. Others just stood gaping in disbelief.
And then—
"Brother!!"
Hua-Jing, tear-eyed and breathless, sprinted across the field, her braids flying behind her like banner ribbons. She was flanked by Elizabeth Feng, Mika Yamana, Mei-Xi-Li, Wang Ji-Pang, and a limping but grinning Finn Ming Ju-go.
She collided into her brother with full force, throwing her arms around him.
Hua-Jing (muffled against his chest):
"Thank the Almighty! I thought— I thought—!"
Aleeman (smiling softly):
"I missed you too, you little whirlwind."
Shi Zhao Mei, standing quietly nearby, brushed dirt off her sleeve. A few students glanced at her bruised cheek and the deep red scratch visible on her collarbone.
Mei-Xi-Li (to Zhao Mei, suspicious):
"How did you really get back? There's not a single wound on your legs—no sign of walking through wilderness."
Zhao Mei (coolly):
"Good posture. And better instincts."
Elizabeth (whispering to Mika):
"She's hiding something again, isn't she?"
As the questions rained on, Hua-Jing noticed the bandage slipping on Aleeman's ribs.
Hua-Jing (firmly):
"Enough questions! He needs medical care—immediately."
Aleeman (opening mouth to protest):
"I'm fine, really. I just—"
His knees buckled.
With a half-sigh, half-groan, he slumped sideways straight into Shi Zhao Mei's shoulder. Her eyes widened as she stumbled slightly under his weight, his head resting dangerously close to her neck.
Her cheeks flushed pink, the colour climbing like ink through silk.
Shi Zhao Mei (stiffly):
"Of all the places to faint..."
Wang Ji-Pang (grinning):
"Well, that's romantic. In a borderline unconscious sort of way."
Finn (chuckling as he stepped forward):
"Let's get the hero to the clinic before he passes out on someone else's chest."
Hua-Jing (smiling with teary relief):
"Zhao Mei, you okay to help?"
Shi Zhao Mei (quietly, supporting Aleeman with surprising tenderness):
"Yes. I'll manage. He's heavy… but manageable."
Together with Wang and Finn, she helped carry Aleeman toward the medical faculty, his arm draped over her shoulders, her gaze subtly slipping sideways to his face, wondering why she wasn't annoyed—for once.
Behind them, the crowd thinned, still murmuring and whispering in awe.
The light in the infirmary filtered in through the tall stained-glass windows, casting soft azure patterns over the whitewashed walls and brass lantern hooks. The scent of camphor, crushed herbs, and warm poultices lingered like an old song.
Aleeman Hakiman stirred beneath the sheets, groaning softly as consciousness clawed its way back to him.
His eyelids fluttered open.
Voices. Shadows. Faces. Familiar.
Surrounding his bed stood Headmaster Falani, draped in his customary midnight-blue robes; Professor Galadriel, arms folded, eyes sharp behind her crescent spectacles; Professor Albus Pot, absent-mindedly twirling his wand-quill between his fingers; and Professor Aurelia Whitmore, regal in posture, her eyes betraying a glint of rare concern.
At the foot of the bed stood Alenka Anastasios von Eridani, notebook in hand, concern etched across her usually unreadable face. And beside her, leaning against the doorframe—Hua-Jing, her brother's scarf clutched tightly in her hands.
Headmaster Falani (dry but composed):
"Commander Hakiman. Welcome back from the land of bruises and bad decisions."
Aleeman (eyes half-lidded, voice croaky):
"Good morning… or afternoon… or whichever hour I've decided to not be dead."
Professor Albus Pot (leaning closer):
"You were out for one day, boy. You gave poor Alenka a fright—look at her, she hasn't even bullied anyone all week."
Alenka (raising an eyebrow, quietly):
"I don't require sarcasm, Professor Pot."
Galadriel (brisk):
"Aleeman. Explain. Who did this? Where have you been? And what happened to your skin—it looks like you were dragged through a furnace and slapped by a demon."
Aurelia Whitmore (calm but firm):
"Names, Commander. Details."
Aleeman sat up slowly, wincing as a bandage tugged at a scab on his back. His hair was tousled, and he looked like he'd fought a bear and made peace with it halfway through.
Aleeman (dryly):
"Well… if we're naming names, shall we start with Queen Liskarm Jee, Tekfur Kekaumenos, his halfwit son Lenotes, and our dear friend Salvador Mortayn—who, may I add, has terrible dental hygiene."
Hua-Jing (gasping):
"Salvador? Are you serious?"
Aleeman (nodding):
"As a stab wound."
He paused and turned slightly, wincing, as his eyes landed on Shi Zhao Mei, seated quietly beside his bed.
Her arms were crossed, but her posture was relaxed. She hadn't spoken yet—just stared at him, not coldly, but...intently.
Aleeman (to Falani):
"Tariq and Mehmet—they went after us, didn't they?"
Headmaster Falani (nodding):
"They did. And they're on their way back as we speak. Likely dragging whatever mess they found along with them."
Falani straightened his robe and glanced once more at the boy in the bed.
Falani (calm, but commanding):
"Heal quickly, Hakiman. May the Almighty grant you recovery faster than your tendency to attract warlords."
He turned to leave, followed by the professors. Before passing the door, he paused and glanced back over his shoulder.
Falani (softly):
"You're not just some sabre-swinging brat anymore. We need you steady. The world is shifting."
And with that, they were gone.
Alenka remained, arms folded now, silent but watchful.
Aleeman exhaled deeply, then turned toward Zhao Mei, who still hadn't moved much.
Aleeman (dry, suspicious):
"What?"
Shi Zhao Mei (arching a brow):
"I'm waiting for the next time you faint on me, so I can drop you properly."
Aleeman (grinning faintly):
"Careful, Zhao Mei… you're sounding like you care."
Shi Zhao Mei (rolling her eyes, cheeks ever so slightly flushed):
"I care about not getting crushed. You're heavy."
Alenka (cutting in, deadpan):
"He's heavier when unconscious. I've got the bruises to prove it."
Hua-Jing (stepping closer, gently fixing Aleeman's hair):
"Just rest, okay? Don't try to be a hero for at least… two days."
Aleeman (softly, nodding):
"I'm not going anywhere."
As the infirmary grew quiet again, Aleeman glanced sideways at Zhao Mei, her hair falling over one shoulder, her fingers idly tracing the hilt of her concealed blade.
Aleeman (quietly):
"You stayed."
Shi Zhao Mei (without looking at him):
"I always do."
Sunlight filters through stained-glass windows, staining the opulent hall in kaleidoscopic hues. At the centre, Queen Liskarm Jee reclines on her throne, idly sipping wine from a silver chalice. Her gaze is as cold and still as polished obsidian.
Suddenly, the doors crash open. Salvador Mortayn storms in, bows on one knee, his eyes fixed on the floor.
Salvador (urgent):
"Your Highness!"
Queen Liskarm Jee (slowly lifting her gaze):
"Speak."
Salvador (voice tight with tension):
"We have scoured the borderlands. No trace of the Wolf—or the Dragon Girl."
Her hand tightens on the chalice. She sets it down with a deliberate clink.
Queen Liskarm Jee (voice ice):
"Fail? You failed?"
Salvador (bowing his head):
"Their comrades—Mehmet, Tariq, Zayd—appeared… out of nowhere. They slew my men. We could not pursue."
Each word hits the Queen like falling daggers. The guards behind Salvador glance nervously, steam rising from their helmets in the heated room.
Queen Liskarm Jee rises, her expression storm-dark.
She dismounts the throne in a fluid motion that nonetheless seems to crack the tension in the room.
Queen Liskarm Jee (menacingly):
"Out of nowhere, you say?"
She clacks across cold stone, eyes narrowing with fury.
Upon reaching Salvador, she snaps forward, gripping his collar with a vice-like grip.
Queen Liskarm Jee (counting her words):
"You lost them? My prey? You let them slip away in front of your very noses?"
Salvador shakes his head frantically.
Salvador (earnest):
"They were there, Your Highness—until the Abjannas came like wolves. We…" he swallows, "we had no choice."
Her grip tightens. He drowns beneath her wrath, eyes wide and desperate.
With a swift motion, she throws him across the room. He lands with a heavy clatter.
Queen Liskarm Jee (coldly):
"Then you will retrieve them. Alive. Or the same fate awaits your men."
Salvador scrambles to his knees, blood pounding in his ears.
Salvador (urgent):
"Yes, Your Highness!"
He darts from the chamber.
Kaelith Voskana, immaculate in polished armor, steps forward, voice quiet but steel-sharp.
Kaelith Voskana (concerned):
"Your Majesty, we cannot repeat this failure. They'll vanish completely."
Queen Liskarm Jee (turning, icy smile):
"Do not mistake this for mercy, Kaelith. Failure is no longer an option. Recover them—for me."
Kaelith inclines her head, steel resolve in her posture.
Queen Liskarm Jee (softly, to herself):
"They will not slip away again."
A pallid moon hung over Myrnwick Hill, cloaking the path in shrouds of mist. The air was heavy with frostbitten hush, the trees swaying like mourners whispering secrets to the wind. Crickets chirped, then stuttered into silence. Even the owls held their tongues.
Two merchants, hunched with fatigue and cloaked in fur-lined coats, trudged their mules up the rugged incline, the sound of cartwheels over gravel echoing too loudly in the unnatural quiet.
First Merchant (grumbling, exhaling steam):
"It's darker than a coal miner's pocket out here. We shouldn't push further, mate."
Second Merchant (nodding, wiping his brow):
"Let's camp here for the night. Break bread, get fire, wait for dawn."
They halted beneath a gnarled yew tree. The first merchant untethered his mule, stretching his aching spine with a groan.
But then—a low, guttural growl rumbled through the silence. It slithered under their feet, coiling around their bones.
First Merchant (eyes narrowing):
"What in the devil's breath was that?"
Second Merchant (stiffening):
"It came from the woods…"
Both men stepped cautiously toward the black timberline, lanterns trembling in their grasp.
Beyond the thickets, the trees parted into an unfamiliar hollow. A deep, gaping abyss yawned before them, rimmed with twisted roots like bony fingers clutching at the earth.
First Merchant (laughing nervously):
"Bah, just a hole. Naught but wind in a pit."
Second Merchant (sternly):
"You fool, it reeks of wrongness. No birds. No breeze. Just… still."
First Merchant (cocky, stepping closer):
"Don't be soft. There's no beast here. Just us and our luck."
But his words curdled in the air.
Second Merchant's eyes widened, frozen, lips parted in voiceless horror.
First Merchant (alarmed):
"What? What's wrong? What're you—"
He turned.
And from the abyss, something rose—tall, twisted, and shrouded in shadow. A figure, faceless, its form barely distinguishable from smoke and iron, emerged in silence like a curse given form.
The merchant's lantern fell. He tried to scream—but it caught in his throat like a bone.
Both men shrieked, a cacophony of terror as birds exploded from the trees, wings flapping like a thousand wet sails.
Their cries were swallowed by the woods. And the mist rolled back in.
The golden morning light filtered in through the long windows of Headmaster Falani's office, casting an amber sheen across the mahogany desk littered with scrolls, inkpots, and a steaming cup of black nettle tea. The room smelled of old books and bitter citrus oil.
Falani sat stiffly in his high-backed leather chair, spectacles perched at the tip of his aquiline nose. His brow furrowed as he read the morning's headline from the Halmosian Tribune.
"Two Merchants Vanish at Myrnwick Hill – Only Lanterns Found Near Abyss of Nocturnum"
He stared at the faded ink for a long moment. His fingers tightened around the paper's edge. A shadow crossed his gaze as he murmured, voice low as a hiss:
"First the wolves, then the flames… and now the maw opens. This is no coincidence."
He pressed the bronze summoning bell beside him.
A soft chime. Moments later, Alenka Anastasio von Eridani entered, heels clicking against the parquet floor. She straightened her back like a blade and inclined her head with practiced grace.
ALENKA
"You summoned me, Headmaster?"
FALANI (without looking up, passing the paper)
"Yes. Read this."
Alenka took the newspaper and scanned the article. Her eyes widened ever so slightly, the corner of her mouth tensing.
FALANI
"The Abyss of Nocturnum. Two seasoned traders gone without trace. Only their lanterns left behind, still burning when found. That's not weather… That's not banditry."
ALENKA (carefully)
"What do you think lurks beneath it?"
FALANI (turning slowly, his voice dropping)
"A beast."
ALENKA (eyebrows knitting)
"A beast…?"
FALANI (crossing his hands on the desk, solemn)
"Not a beast of sinew and claw. Not one with a name we dare speak. An ancient thing. One we forgot… or tried to."
Alenka's shoulders stiffened. A shiver ran down her arms as her gaze dropped to the newspaper.
ALENKA (softly, almost to herself)
"May the winds spare any soul who wanders that path… it'd be a dreadful fate."
FALANI (nodding, gravely)
"Indeed. Which is why this matter requires someone who walks with fate, not away from it."
ALENKA
"You mean—Commander Hakiman?"
FALANI (standing slowly, gesturing towards the door)
"Yes. And the girl… his travelling partner."
Alenka hesitated. Her lips parted, uncertain.
ALENKA
"But Aleeman skips lessons, breaks curfew, provokes officials, stirs half the academy, and never shows up without bruises or a story…"
FALANI (cutting her off with a raised hand, then smirking faintly)
"Yes. But he also duelled Lenotes Kekaumenos and lived. He defied the Faliton Queen. He returned with the cursed girl when even the stars refused to guide them."
He leaned forward, voice clipped and commanding.
"Bring him. And her."
ALENKA (bowing her head)
"Yes, Headmaster."
She turned crisply on her heel and left the office, her expression unreadable—but her stride quickened as the cold weight of the task settled on her shoulders.
FALANI (alone now, murmuring under breath)
"The Nocturnum stirs… and we shall soon know if the dragon walks beside him, or ahead."
A thin beam of sunlight filtered through the white gauze curtains, painting pale streaks across the polished tile floor. Aleeman Hakiman sat upright on the infirmary bed, his back wrapped in silken bandages infused with balm-root and phoenix salve. The air was still, save for the faint scratching of a pen gliding across parchment.
His brow was furrowed in quiet thought, eyes narrowed, lips murmuring softly with each word he scribbled:
"𐰇𐰀𐰓𐰋𐰖𐰈𐰀 𐰀𐰋𐰀 𐰃𐰔𐰓𐰀𐰋 𐰓𐰀𐰑𐰈𐰀, 𐰀𐰑𐰇𐰖𐰈𐰀𐰋 𐰈𐰀𐰘𐰖𐰃𐰍𐰀𐰓 𐰋𐰀𐰃𐰖 𐰁𐰃 𐰀𐰋-𐰇𐰖𐰃𐰓𐰃𐰓.
𐰉𐰖𐰔𐰔𐰃𐰍 𐰀𐰋𐰀𐰍 𐰃𐰓𐰃𐰈𐰆𐰓𐰔𐰃𐰑 𐰀𐰋𐰀 𐰇𐰆𐰓𐰔𐰈𐰇𐰖𐰃𐰑.
**𐰀𐰑𐰖𐰋 𐰀𐰋-𐰸𐰀𐰢𐰃𐰖𐰀𐰍 𐰘𐰀𐰓𐰍 𐰉𐰖𐰔𐰔𐰃𐰍 𐰸𐰀𐰠𐰢𐰆𐰔𐰃𐰀𐰍, 𐰇𐰖𐰓 𐰋𐰀𐰍𐰇𐰖𐰑 𐰘𐰖𐰖𐰆𐰢 𐰀𐰋𐰀𐰋𐰓𐰃𐰓 𐰀𐰑𐰖𐰋 𐰀𐰋𐰀𐰋 𐰈𐰆𐰓𐰆𐰘𐰀𐰍." which means:
"Heavens and earth cross the line,
The shadows of darkness fade away by the light of heavens.
Blessings among the righteous, and curses among the wrongdoers.
The Kingdom of Hamiyann shall bless Halmosian;
The sky shall fall between the Kingdom of Twin Cities."
He paused. His hand stilled. The ink glistened on the page like fresh blood.
Aleeman gazed at the words a moment longer, his jaw tightening.
ALEEMAN (murmuring to himself)
"Prophecy or poetry, I can't even tell anymore…"
His fingers folded the parchment swiftly, sliding it beneath his mattress just as a soft knock echoed on the door. He jolted upright, turning.
ALENA ANASTASIO VON ERIDANI stepped inside, sharp as a compass point, her uniform crisp and her hair pinned neatly back. She scanned the room with quiet calculation—eyes like winter glass.
ALEEMAN (casually)
"Alenka? You've come bearing tea or bad news?"
ALENKA (dryly)
"Neither. Are you free now?"
ALEEMAN (stretching with a groan, wincing slightly)
"Almost. The healers say I'll be discharged shortly. Can finally move without feeling like a plucked chicken."
ALENKA (curtly)
"Good. Headmaster Falani wants to see you. You—and Shi Zhao Mei."
Her eyes flicked to the empty space beside his bed, brows twitching.
ALEEMAN (adjusting his shirt collar, exhaling)
"She's probably off with Hua-Jing... again. I swear they've started speaking in riddles just to confuse me."
ALEMAN (squinting)
"Wait—something happened?"
ALENKA (halfway out the door, turns slightly)
"Go and ask yourself, wolf."
She left with the crisp clip of her boots echoing down the hallway, her cloak fluttering like a crow's wing behind her.
ALEEMAN (to himself, running a hand through his tousled hair)
"What did she do again now…?"
He sighed, rolled his shoulders carefully, then reached under the bed and patted the folded parchment—still hidden.
His gaze lingered on the door as his expression turned thoughtful, and he muttered under his breath:
ALEEMAN
"Twin Cities… sky falling… sounds like my kind of headache."
The tall arched windows let in ribbons of high sun that danced lazily across the inlaid mahogany floor. The scent of parchment, pipe smoke, and ancient ink lingered thickly in the room. Headmaster Falani, seated in his high-backed chair turned partially sideways, stared at the latticed window with hands steepled beneath his chin.
A firm knock, then the double doors swung open.
ALEEMAN HAKIMAN stepped in first, his posture straighter than usual—bandages tucked neatly beneath his shirt. SHI ZHAO MEI followed, composed yet unreadable, her arms folded beneath her cloak, one brow subtly arched.
ALEEMAN
"Headmaster, you summoned us?"
FALANI (turning slowly to face them, voice low and level)
"I did indeed."
He gestured them forward with two fingers, then leaned slightly over the desk, eyes narrowed like a chessmaster several moves ahead.
FALANI (fingers laced together)
"You two are to investigate the Nocturnum Abyss."
SHI ZHAO MEI (tilting her head with a faint smirk)
"Well… that sounds delightfully ominous."
She leaned against the side of the desk, lips quirked, but her eyes gleamed with intrigue.
ALEEMAN (frowning)
"Begging your pardon, sir—for what purpose?"
Without a word, Falani slid a folded broadsheet across the polished desk toward them. The headline in bold, jagged font:
"TWO MERCHANTS MISSING NEAR NOCTURNUM ABYSS – ONLY LANTERNS FOUND"
Aleeman's eyes flicked over the ink while Shi Zhao Mei leaned in, her arms unfolding. Her gaze sharpened.
ALEEMAN (reading aloud, then muttering)
"…no trace of the bodies… lanterns extinguished… ground clawed. This—this doesn't feel like bandits."
FALANI (sternly)
"Because it isn't."
He sat back, his voice a gravelled hush.
"There's talk of… ancient things stirring beneath that abyss. Shadows older than memory. I need the two of you to confirm what lies there before it crawls out and makes the decision for us."
ALEEMAN (half-exasperated, half-smirking)
"With respect, sir—I just returned yesterday. Fresh from being flayed like a roast goose. My spine's still singing psalms."
FALANI (cutting him off, dryly)
"Then consider it a pilgrimage. One that builds character. And vertebrae."
He waved a dismissive hand.
"I've read your file, Hakiman. The moment your injuries vanished, so did your excuses."
SHI ZHAO MEI (suppressing a chuckle, side-eyeing Aleeman)
"Well, at least he waited until you were breathing properly."
ALEEMAN (sighing, palm to forehead)
"Yes, Headmaster."
FALANI (leaning in, quietly)
"Be cautious. I have no desire to read your obituary in my morning tea."
He turned his chair back toward the window. The meeting was over.
Aleeman and Shi Zhao Mei glanced at each other—him with a resigned smirk, her with one brow still lifted.
As they turned to leave, Falani's voice called out softly, without looking back:
FALANI
"And do try not to fall into the abyss… again."
A gentle breeze rustles golden leaves along their path. Aleeman and Shi Zhao Mei walk side by side, cloaks sweeping dust from the trodden trail.
Aleeman hesitates, then clears his throat.
ALEEMAN
"Zhao Mei!"
She stops, turning to face him—an eyebrow arched, expression serene.
ZHAO MEI
"Yes?"
ALEEMAN
"I don't know if it's just me, but… you've been acting rather… peculiar."
Her lips twitch in mild amusement.
ZHAO MEI (coolly)
"Unusual? In what manner?"
ALEEMAN
"You're all smiles one moment, arguing the next—sometimes downright combative."
She laughs softly, voice light as a bell.
ZHAO MEI
"Oh, did I? Goodness me, quite the shapeshifter, am I not?"
Inner Thought (Zhao Mei):He's more perceptive than I gave him credit—but shall I admit it?
Aleeman takes a breath, scanning the horizon before his gaze returns to her.
ALEEMAN
"You're… beautiful—terrifyingly so. When the academy sees you, both boys and girls are aflutter—General Xuè Lián nearly fainted, and even Prince Liu Zhenbao can't seem to keep his composure."
Her cheeks flush faintly—resembling the first blush of dawn across her graceful features. She tilts her head, eyes softening.
ZHAO MEI
"You flatter me."
She studies his expression, searching for jest—and sees only sincerity.
He chuckles, voice teasing.
ALEEMAN
"And that outfit… revealing your midriff like it's some grand gesture—bold tactic to draw attention, no?"
Her cheeks deepen into crimson. Without warning, she swats his cheek—playful but firm.
ZHAO MEI
"So… you're attracted, then?"
His grin falters slightly, caught between pride and embarrassment.
ALEEMAN
"No! I—well… I like you. Fondly. Very fondly."
She pauses, softness gleaming in her eyes.
ZHAO MEI (quietly)
"You… like me."
His chest puffs, triumphant.
ALEEMAN
"Anyway—first one to reach the abyss owes the other a prize."
She straightens, lips curling into a competitive grin.
ZHAO MEI (inner monologue)
Heh. As if I'd let this clumsy human win.
With that, she bursts into laughter and dashes down the slope. Leaves whirl in her wake.
Zhao Mei leans forward—swift as a shadow—she's quickly ahead.
Inner Thought (Aleeman):She's quicker than a forest breeze… must try and catch up before she gloats.
They careen forward like twin arrows from the same bow.
But then—they round a bend—and the path ends abruptly at a sheer cliff.
ALEEMAN (eyes widening)
"Watch out!"
Zhao Mei doesn't see it. She plunges forward—until Aleeman's arm wraps around her waist, his palm pressed firmly on her abdomen, pulling her back from the brink.
They stumble, hearts pounding. Zhao Mei's head snaps back—hands on his shoulders, grounded.
Her eyes flicker over his face—honest, urgent.
ZHAO MEI (softly)
"You saved me… again."
Aleeman shifts, cheeks stained pink.
ALEEMAN
"I couldn't… let you fall."
They stand there for a heartbeat, the wind stilling around them like a hushed audience.
ZHAO MEI (whispers)
"Thank you."
He turns away, leaning back, clearing his throat.
ALEEMAN
"Shall we… find that abyss now?"
She nods, breath steady. They continue side by side—close, yet silent—walking into the unknown with new warmth kindling between them.
But then—the ground quaked. A low, guttural tremor pulsed from beneath, like the belly of the world had stirred from slumber. The cliffside cracked, a fine scree of pebbles tumbling into the chasm. From the abyss, something ancient stirred—rising slowly, shapeless, and veiled in dread.
ALEEMAN
(sharp, protective)
"Zhao Mei! Step back!"
But she did not move. Shi Zhao Mei stood her ground, her black-red silk hair catching the rising gust like a war banner, eyes narrowing with cold resolve.
She raised her hand, palm outward, then lifted two fingers to her brow. Her lips parted.
ZHAO MEI
"Lóngxī Guānjiè—Dragon's Breath, Sight Beyond Realms."
At her words, the air shimmered—a translucent spiritual mist exhaled from her core, trailing crimson-gold like flame-drenched smoke. It slithered toward the abyss, unseen by mortal eyes, imbued with her Blood Flame Qi—an ethereal sensor, attuned to the wicked and the unseen.
The mist sank deeper and deeper... until it met resistance.
Her body jolted. Eyes widened. Breath caught. Something—many things—moved below. Shapes grotesque, swarming like vipers through pitch. Claws. Mauls. Eyes without soul.
ZHAO MEI (staggering backward, gripping her temple)
"Ahh—!"
ALEEMAN
(rushing to her, voice edged with panic)
"Zhao Mei! What is it?!"
She dropped to one knee, breathing heavy.
ZHAO MEI
"I saw… them. There are entities—monsters—lurking down there. Dozens. Maybe more."
Aleeman crouched beside her, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the void below.
ALEEMAN
"So… the abyss isn't a chasm. It's a gate."
ZHAO MEI
"Exactly."
He stood, rolling his shoulders as though shrugging off fear.
ALEEMAN
"Then we go down."
ZHAO MEI (baffled)
"Have you lost your senses? That's not courage—that's madness!"
He turned to her, his expression calm—but burning beneath the surface.
ALEEMAN
"If we don't stop them… they'll crawl out of there one day. And next time, it won't be two merchants. It'll be a village. A city. Our people."
She glared at him, caught between fury and admiration.
ZHAO MEI
"You are an unrepentant fool, Hakiman."
He smiled faintly, then extended his hand toward her.
ALEEMAN
"Good thing you're the wiser one. Now—shall we?"
She stared at his hand. At his eyes. At the man who was too brave for his own good. Then with a subtle sigh and a mutter under her breath—
ZHAO MEI
"I really hate you sometimes…"
—she clasped his hand.
They leapt.
They fell for seconds that felt like hours—wind screaming past, darkness pressing on all sides. Then—a soft thud.
They landed safely upon moss-covered stone, the air down here thick, like breathing through velvet soaked in fear.
ALEEMAN (steadying himself)
"This place smells like forgotten death."
ZHAO MEI
"It's worse than that. It smells... ancient."
Around them: nothing but obsidian walls, slick with some damp, dark sheen. The ceiling above vanished into black. The air pulsed with unnatural rhythm—a heartbeat not their own.
Zhao Mei raised her hand again. A whisper of her flame Qi ignited a small orb of fire, hovering above her palm—its light struggling against the oppressive dark, like a candle fighting a storm.
ALEEMAN (eyeing the flame)
"Lead the way, Firebrand."
Inner Monologue (Aleeman):
She's always ahead—always shining, even when the path turns rotten. Still… I'll follow. Through fire, through pitch. Just to see where she walks.
Their steps echoed forward into the unknown. Stone cracked beneath them, and somewhere—far off—a growl echoed like thunder in a coffin.
The silence of the abyss is interrupted by a sharp static—a faint crackle pulsing from Aleeman's earpiece. He instinctively presses a finger to it, tilting his head slightly as the frequency adjusts.
A crisp voice filters through:
HEADMASTER FALANI (over comms)
"Hakiman, do you copy?"
ALEEMAN (calm but alert)
"Affirmative, Headmaster."
FALANI
"What's the current intel?"
Aleeman glances around—darkness clinging to the walls like tar. The faint glow from Zhao Mei's flame flickers across twisted, unnatural stonework.
ALEEMAN
"We've reached inside the abyss. Visibility's low. The atmosphere's unnatural. We're advancing to investigate the entities."
A pause—then Falani's voice, lower and firmer:
FALANI
"Good. Proceed with caution. Report any anomaly. And Hakiman—don't play the hero."
ALEEMAN (with a faint smile)
"Roger that."
The transmission ends in a soft click. He lowers his hand.
SHI ZHAO MEI, who's been observing him from the corner of her eye, raises an eyebrow. Her fire orb still floats by her shoulder, casting a warm hue over her sharp expression.
ZHAO MEI (with a sideways smirk, arms folded)
"'Don't play the hero,' he says—as if you'd listen."
Aleeman keeps walking, expression unreadable, eyes fixed ahead.
He says nothing.
ZHAO MEI (with a slight scoff, mock-offended)
"Oh, what's this? No clever quip? No smug comeback? I'm beginning to worry."
Aleeman finally glances at her, expression flat.
ALEEMAN (dryly)
"If I start arguing with you now, we'll be dead before we find the first creature."
ZHAO MEI (grinning, leaning in slightly)
"I'll take that as: you know I'm right."
Animated reaction: she flicks her flame closer to his face playfully—he dodges, barely flinching.
ALEEMAN (muttering as he walks ahead)
"Dragons and their egos…"
ZHAO MEI (grinning wider)
"I heard that."
Inner Monologue (Aleeman):
She smirks like a fox, walks like a queen, and talks like a storm. And yet here I am—following willingly into hell.
They descend deeper, the firelight flickering over carvings older than kingdoms, older than memory.
Beneath the oppressive darkness, a faint rumble echoed through the cavern's echoing depths—soft, sinister, rumbling like the growl of ancient leviathans rousing from slumber.
Ahead, dozens—hundreds—of grotesque beings lay dormant: sinewy limbs curled tight, inert carapaces mottled with obsidian and pallid bone. Their stillness weighed heavy in the stale, fetid air.
Aleeman and Shi Zhao Mei paused, glancing at one another in tense stillness.
ALEEMAN (voice hushed)
"They're all asleep... but not dead."
ZHAO MEI (softly)
"Be silent. They'll sense us if we breathe too loudly."
Moments later—a sudden thunderous roar. The creatures snapped awake. Stone cracked. Wings unfurled. Hot breath steamed in frigid gloom.
They whirled toward the intruders.
ALEEMAN (strained whisper)
"Zhao Mei—Defensive posture!"
With a guttural wail, the creatures launched—jaws snapping, claws slashing. The cavern shook.
Shi Zhao Mei drew in a trembling breath—and unleashed her inner storm:
Xuèlóng Qǐxī – Blood Dragon's First Breath
Her blood flame Qi ignited, veins glowing ruby beneath skin. A tempest of scarlet mist erupted, tearing through clustered foes.
Hónglián Zhǐ – Crimson Lotus Finger
Her fingertip flicked like an arrow; flames burst upon several monsters, causing delayed, eruptive combustion.
Fénxīn Jué – Heartburning Incantation
A spiritual incantation rang out, sending soul-shattering pain to the lower-tier creatures—some froze mid-slither.
Fēiyàn Bù – Scarlet Flame Step
She vanished and reappeared in flame-wrought afterimages, slicing through grotesqueries with silent efficiency. Her movement resembled dancing tongues of fire.
Yet—they began to regenerate. Wounds knit at unnatural speed; flesh reformed where flames struck. Their eyes glowed with malevolent light once more.
Aleeman watched, tense and gritted. Then he drew Wolf Claw, stepping forward.
He lunged in a blur, sabre arcing steel-white through darkness. His blade hummed a cold melody. Limbs snapped, heads cleaved, bone shattered.
A large creature slammed him sideways—pain exploded in his ribs; he crashed hard against the abyss wall, breath tearing from his lungs.
ZHAO MEI gasped:
"Aleeman!"
When she moved forward, shadowy tendrils bound her wrists and ankles, sapping even her Dragon Qi. She struggled—but remained pinned helplessly.
Blood trickled from Aleeman's head as he staggered, rising with clenched teeth and determination carved into his features.
ALEEMAN (coughing, roaring low)
"Zhao Mei!"
The beasts circled her, tongues flicking—not hungry, but curious, cruel.
One beast leaned close—its long, slithering tongue danced across her gown, trailing hot dread.
ZHAO MEI screamed, terror and fury battling in her cry.
Raising Wolf Claw to the ceiling, Aleeman intoned with savage clarity:
"Heavens and earth cross the line,
The shadows of darkness fade away by the light of heavens.
Blessings among the righteous, and curses among the wrongdoers.
The Kingdom of Hamiyann shall bless Halmosian;
The sky shall fall between the Kingdom of Twin Cities."
Each word threw a shockwave through the cavern. The air snapped with crackling energy. The abyss trembled.
The creatures recoiled, shrieking in collective agony.
Aleeman, his aura became stronger which makes the beasts fill chill to their spine and lunged again—faster than thought. He carved through the nest of horror in unmatched fury, predation embodied. Limbs severed, skulls shattered; shadows burned back in the light of his resolve.
Within heartbeats, silence reigned.
Zhao Mei collapsed to her knees, freed from bonds. She touched her throat, score marks on her skin where the funniest tongues tested their reach.
Aleeman stumbled toward her, breath ragged but steady. His sabre dripped with ichor—his expression wild, alien. Not the boy she coaxed banter from—but something inhuman.
ZHAO MEI (softly, voice quivering)
"You... killed them all... like divine wrath."
He dipped his head, catching onto her gaze.
ALEEMAN (quietly)
"They would have destroyed everything."
She reached a trembling hand to his arm.
ZHAO MEI
"You're terrifying... but... you saved me again."
He offered an exhausted smile.
ALEEMAN
"We should leave. Before anything regenerates."
The abyss was hushed now—too hushed. Like a cathedral where something sacred had just been desecrated. Smoke curled from still-sizzling corpses, the blackened remnants of eldritch monstrosities strewn like discarded dolls in a nightmare nursery.
Aleeman knelt for breath, Wolf Claw resting on one blood-slicked knee. His hair clung to his forehead, his skin shimmered with sweat, and his eyes—dark, unblinking—burned with quiet wrath. Beside him, Shi Zhao Mei pressed her hand to her abdomen, still shaken, lips pale but proud.
Suddenly—the ear piece crackled to life.
FALANI (voice filtered through static, firm but tense)
"Commander Hakiman. Do you copy?"
Aleeman swallowed hard, raised his wrist slowly and pressed the side of the receiver. His voice, rough and hoarse, rasped through clenched teeth.
ALEEMAN (quietly, but with steady command)
"I copy, Headmaster."
FALANI
"Report. What in the heavens happened down there?"
Aleeman inhaled, his gaze trailing to the scattered remains of the creatures. His voice dropped an octave, quiet yet loaded with weight.
ALEEMAN
"We encountered entities, sir. Not natural. Not of Halmosian origin. Dozens—perhaps hundreds. They were dormant, until something roused them."
He paused, looking toward Shi Zhao Mei, who sat on a jagged stone, brushing blood from her cheek with shaking fingers. Her face was unreadable—between strength and sorrow.
FALANI
"And the status of your mission?"
ALEEMAN (his tone darkened)
"We neutralised them, sir. All of them. But… I don't believe they were the only threat down here."
He ran a hand through his hair, fingers trembling faintly—fatigue stitched into his very marrow.
FALANI (soft, slower)
"What do you mean?"
Aleeman exhaled slowly, looking around the eerie quiet of the hollow.
ALEEMAN
"They were regenerating faster than normal. Adaptive. Like something... was guiding them. Or feeding them."
There was a long pause from the other side. Only static.
FALANI (eventually, grave)
"Understood. Return at once. Do not tarry. And… well done, Aleeman. You and Miss Zhao Mei have done what others wouldn't have survived."
Aleeman blinked at the praise. Then he leaned against a stone wall, pressing the earpiece one last time.
ALEEMAN (murmured)
"Aye, sir… we're on our way."
He turned to Zhao Mei, who stood now, her composure steadying like water after a storm. Her eyes caught his, quietly amused.
ZHAO MEI (teasing)
"Didn't mention my name once in that report."
ALEEMAN (dryly)
"Could barely pronounce my own."
She chuckled, brushing dust from her torn sleeve. Then she nodded.
ZHAO MEI
"Let's get the hell out of here. Before this abyss wakes up again."
Aleeman offered a hand. She took it.
Together, they vanished back into the dark, the path behind them marked not by footsteps—but by survival.