The confrontation with Shen hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and charged with the promise of something terrible. Moria's golden eyes glinted with an emotion Jiang Yan couldn't quite place—was it anger, or something more? It was rare to see her unsettled, and it only fueled the unease gnawing at him.
Shen's presence was like a shadow that clung to the edges of their thoughts, his intent clear—he wanted the Flame Lotus, and he wasn't going to be stopped. But there was something else in his eyes, something deeper, like the remnants of a long-forgotten pain that twisted beneath the surface.
"I will not let you have it," Moria repeated, her voice softer, but resolute.
Shen's smile never faltered, though the gleam in his eyes grew sharper. "You never did understand, did you? Power, Tia. It's never just about the strength of one's hand or the force of one's will. It's about what you're willing to sacrifice. And I've already sacrificed everything."
Jiang Yan glanced at Moria, noticing how her posture stiffened at his words. There was a history here—something far older than the Flame Lotus and far more complicated than the present battle. But before he could ask, Moria stepped forward, cutting through the tension with a chilling calm.
"Your sacrifice means nothing," she said, her voice icy. "You lost your kingdom, your power, your family—because you were weak. You didn't understand the true nature of power, Shen. And now, you're just a ghost of your former self."
Shen's eyes narrowed, his sharp features twisting into a snarl. "You don't know anything about me, Tia. You've been hiding, playing your games, while I've been fighting for what's mine."
The space between them crackled with energy, but Moria stood her ground, unshaken. "And I've been winning. And I will continue to win."
There was a long pause. Shen didn't speak, and neither did Moria. Instead, the air thickened with a silence that pressed against Jiang Yan's chest, suffocating him. He wanted to break it, to say something—anything—to keep the peace. But he knew better than to get involved in their tangled history.
Finally, Shen turned on his heel, his red eyes flashing with an unreadable emotion. "I'll be back for the Flame Lotus, Tia. Don't think this is over."
And then, as quickly as he had appeared, Shen vanished into the shadows, leaving nothing but the echoes of his words behind.
Jiang Yan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "What the hell was that about?"
Moria didn't answer immediately. She stood there, staring at the spot where Shen had vanished, her expression unreadable. For a long moment, she remained silent, lost in thought. Then, finally, she spoke.
"He's right, you know. I didn't just hide—I ran. I ran from my past, from everything I once was." Her voice was barely above a whisper, a note of sorrow in her words that Jiang Yan had never heard before.
"Who was he to you?" Jiang Yan asked, his voice gentle, careful. "Why is he so obsessed with you?"
Moria turned to face him, her golden eyes filled with something he couldn't quite read. "He was once my partner. A king in his own right, before he lost everything—because of me."
Jiang Yan's brow furrowed. "Because of you?"
She nodded. "I betrayed him, Jiang Yan. I betrayed him when I chose power over everything else. It's a part of my past that I've tried to bury, but Shen won't let me forget."
Li Yuan, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "You've been running from your past all this time?"
Moria's eyes softened, a trace of vulnerability flickering in them. "Some things are better left forgotten. Power comes at a cost, and I've paid it. But not everyone can accept that price. Shen can't. He's too lost in the ghosts of the past."
Jiang Yan didn't know what to say to that. The past had a way of shaping the future, and Moria's past was clearly more complicated than he had realized.
"We'll deal with him when the time comes," Moria continued, her voice once again cold and calculating. "But for now, our goal remains the same. We need to find the other artifacts, before he does. And that means continuing our journey."
Li Yuan didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "Alright. But we're all in this together, right?"
Moria gave a small smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Of course. But don't forget, Jiang Yan—power isn't something that's easily shared. We all have our roles to play in this game."
---