The forest lay quiet after the brutal clash. Leaves scattered like ash in the wind, and the scent of scorched bark lingered. Duncan stood panting, his body bleeding in several places. Mai approached him, her eyes narrowed. She didn't ask if he was okay—she knew he wasn't. Tiffany trailed behind, unusually silent, her golden aura dimmer than usual.
Ran Fuji's body lay nearby, not dead, but unconscious and badly wounded. Duncan had spared him, despite the rage in Ran's eyes, until the final blow.
"You didn't kill him," Mai noted.
Duncan shook his head. "No. He's broken, not evil. There's a difference."
They made camp nearby as the sun dipped beneath the trees. That night, Duncan stitched his wounds, refusing help. Tiffany finally broke the silence.
"That armor he wore..." she murmured. "It was made from dead flower remnants. How the hell did he even collect those?"
Mai replied softly, "He said he never had a flower. That he watched his brother burn from one he couldn't control."
Tiffany stared at the flames. "He blames us all. Even if we never hurt him."
Duncan looked at her. "Pain doesn't need logic. It needs an outlet."
The next morning, Mai walked alone for a moment, stepping into a mossy clearing. She found a small stone shrine, half-crumbled. Upon its surface, a faded symbol: a marigold. Her heart jumped.
"Another one..."
She reached out, but before her fingers touched the carving, a voice cut through the air.
"Don't move."
Tiffany appeared behind her, one hand raised. "That's not just a shrine. It's a warning. That symbol's burnt. That means someone branded it. Gigel's people, probably."
Mai lowered her hand. "Then we're close."
They regrouped and continued traveling eastward. The terrain changed—forests turning to foggy highlands. Duncan grew tenser.
"This is too close to the old southern military zone," he muttered. "If anyone remembers me..."
Tiffany snorted. "Let them come. I've been dying to punch someone in uniform."
That night, Duncan opened the journal again. The pages were fragile now. Burned in places. But the words remained:
"Tiffany, you were born with light. Even if you cover it in thorns."
He looked at her sleeping form. For once, she seemed peaceful.
He turned the page—then paused.
A folded note fell out. It wasn't written by Leo.
It read: "If you're reading this... she's not ready yet. But she will be. Help her burn."
The signature was unclear. Just a symbol—three circles intertwined.
Duncan blinked. He showed it to Mai the next morning. She studied it carefully.
"I've seen this before," she said. "Carved on the inside of the dojo walls. Before everything burned."
Tiffany woke slowly, saw them holding the note, and frowned. "What's that?"
Mai handed it over. Tiffany read it once, twice. Her eyes went wide. Then, she crumpled it.
"Fake. Probably some twisted prank."
Duncan wasn't convinced. Neither was Mai.
They approached the cliffs by nightfall. A storm was brewing.
Lightning cracked in the distance, lighting the path to a crumbled monastery up ahead.
Mai whispered, "This wasn't on any map."
Tiffany stepped forward. "Which means we're right where we need to be."
They entered the ruins cautiously.
And from the shadows... something watched.
If you liked it, leave a review or Favorite the story:).