Deep inside the misty valley, a lone figure walked with care. Each step was quiet. It was Soe Gyi.He had left the temple behind. But he did not return to the Blood Gang.
Instead, he went deeper into the valley. He followed the faint clues Thurain had given about a hidden village.
Tall trees rose above him. Their twisted branches crossed like claws in the air. Thick plants brushed his legs. The leaves were wet with dew.
Mist covered the ground and clung to the trees. It hid the forest floor and made the air heavy. Sound was muffled, soft and strange.
A pale light slipped through the canopy. It lit the fog in a faint glow. Small creatures scurried away. Others leapt into the bushes and vanished.
A small light moved in the distance. It was a candle, glowing weak and far away.
Soe Gyi crouched behind a stone covered in moss. He watched carefully.
Slowly, he moved forward, sliding through the fog.
In front of him stood a huge building. It was an ancient tomb.
The doorway had old symbols on it. The carvings were smooth after many years.
The stone path was cracked, with moss
growing in the gaps.
On the walls were carvings. They showed battles, strange rituals, and gifts to gods long forgotten
Soe Gyi stood still and looked at the tomb. His dark eyes moved over every detail.
So many secrets hidden under this stone… he thought. What has been left here for centuries?
His axe rested on his shoulder. Its weight felt solid and familiar.
He crouched near the entrance. The silence was heavy, almost alive. He waited, listening.
After a long moment, he whispered, "Time to see what waits inside."
He took a deep breath and stepped forward. Mist from the valley clung to his cloak and faded behind him.
The tomb's shadows swallowed him. Darkness felt alive. Each careful step made a sound in the cold air.
The hallway was narrow. Dust hung in the air. Only his steps moved it. The torchlight made long shadows on the stone floor. Many doors were along the hallway.
Soe Gyi stopped. He looked at the doors. "What secrets are here?" he whispered.
He picked the first door and pushed it open. The hinges creaked. Inside was a small room full of chests and urns. Gold and jewels shone faintly in the torchlight.
"So...it's treasure…," he whispered, stepping closer. His eyes narrowed.
A soft click came from under his boots. His heart jumped. "Hm? That's strange…"
Before he could move, the floor gave way. He fell hard, hitting a pit lined with sharp stakes. Pain shot through his leg.
"Damn!"
he growled, rolling to avoid the spikes. He looked around quickly. A loose wooden beam was nearby. Using it as a lever, he pried himself out.
He stood up, chest heaving, wiping sweat from his face.
"Clever trap," he muttered.
He walked to the chest and he ran his hands through the gold inside, checking carefully. He wondered if there might be a special item hidden there.
But he found nothing.
With a small frown, he closed the chest. Then he turned and walked into the next room.
Soe Gyi stepped into the next room. Gold shone faintly in the torchlight.
He smirked and muttered, "Again?"
His eyes sharpened, scanning every corner.
Suddenly, arrows shot from tiny slits in the walls. He spun to the side, letting some hit the stone harmlessly.
"You can't fool me twice,"
he growled, pressing his back against the cold wall. His eyes spotted subtle grooves in the stone—a hidden mechanism.
Carefully, he traced the pattern with his fingers and pressed the correct sequence.
The arrows stopped mid-flight. Silence returned to the room. A faint, dangerous smile appeared on Soe Gyi's lips.
"Clever… but not enough," he muttered, stepping forward toward the glittering treasure.
As Soe Gyi walked toward the treasure, heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor. Each step thudded slowly and steadily.
The sound told him the owner was large and powerful.
Soe Gyi did not hide. He stood still, eyes narrowing, watching the doorway.
The footsteps came closer and then stopped. A low voice muttered,
"Why is this door open? It's not windy tonight."
A shadow filled the doorway. Before the door fully closed, its eyes met Soe Gyi's. They stared at each other in silence, tense and still.
"Outsider?" the shadow asked.
"Yes," Soe Gyi replied, his voice calm.
The figure stepped into the torchlight. It looked human—but it was not.
A tiger walked upright, wearing simple, sturdy clothes. Two meters tall, muscles rippled under golden-brown fur. Thick thighs, strong arms. In one hand, a golden blade gleamed.
"Do you need a place for the night?"
The tiger-man asked. His voice was deep and smooth.
"No," Soe Gyi said.
He stepped forward a little, his eyes cold.
"Then why are you here?"
The tiger asked. He tilted his head, watching him closely.
"I lost my way returning to my village," Soe Gyi said.
His voice was calm, but inside he thought, This one is not normal.
The room went quiet. The silence was heavy.
At last, the tiger spoke again.
"I am Kyar Ye. And you?"
"Soe Gyi," he answered.
He stood straight, not showing fear.
Kyar Ye muttered, almost to himself;
"Soe Gyi...Soe Gyi…."
Then his amber eyes narrowed, fixing on Soe Gyi's back.
"I smell something familiar,"
Kyar Ye said slowly. His voice was low and sharp.
"Did you… kill one of my brothers?"
The words filled the room like blades in the air.
Soe Gyi's pulse stayed steady, but his mind was sharp.
Killed one of his brothers? When? The one I killed was the tiger king from the mountain near my village.
Wait… is he talking about that one—the one I sold to the restaurant for two gold coins?..... What a coincidence.
And this tiger....can talk… carries a golden blade… and knows about blood ties. Not just strong. Dangerous.
"I have killed one,"
Soe Gyi said calmly, tightening his grip on his axe. His voice was cold and detached.
"But the tiger I killed was not like you. It was in its tiger form."
Kyar Ye's eyes widened. Then they burned with anger. His chest rumbled with a low growl.
"My brother is in his true form. He cannot take a human shape like me."
" The last I heard… he is prowling the nearby mountains."
His voice was full of rage as he stared at Soe Gyi.
Soe Gyi closed his eyes for a moment, steadying his breath. When he opened them again, they were sharp and cold.
He pulled his axe from his back.
"He should never have come near me, Too..... weak." he said quietly.
The silence hung heavy in the room.