Xiao Wu dreamed of red.
Not fire—blood-soaked sunlight, filtering through towering trees older than memory.
She stood barefoot on soft grass, the air thick with spirit energy so dense it pressed against her skin. Her heart beat fast, not from fear, but from a familiarity she couldn't name.
"Why am I here…?" she whispered.
The world answered with footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
The ground trembled as a colossal shadow emerged between ancient trunks—a pair of eyes like twin moons opening in the dark.
Gentle.
Terrifying.
"Little one…"
Xiao Wu staggered back.
"No," she said instinctively. "Don't—don't call me that."
The shadow leaned closer, pressure rolling outward like a tide.
"Your seal thins.""Your scent returns."
Her chest burned.
A mark beneath her collarbone flared briefly—then vanished.
Xiao Wu clutched at it, breathing hard. "I don't remember you," she said. "And I don't want to."
The presence paused.
"You chose to forget."
The world fractured.
—
Xiao Wu jolted awake with a sharp gasp.
Her room at Shrek Academy was dark, moonlight slipping through the window. Her sheets were damp with sweat, heart pounding as if she'd been running for hours.
"…That wasn't a normal dream," she whispered.
She swung her legs off the bed—and froze.
Her spirit power was unstable.
Not leaking.
Resonating.
A soft knock came at the door.
Before she could answer, it opened.
Lin Chen stepped inside, expression calm but eyes sharp.
"You felt it too," Xiao Wu said quietly.
"Yes."
He crossed the room in three steps, placing two fingers lightly against her wrist.
Her pulse surged.
The system interface unfolded instantly.
[Warning: Seal Integrity—94%][Trigger Detected: External Recognition][Threat Level: Latent – Extreme]
Lin Chen's gaze hardened.
"You were noticed," he said.
Xiao Wu swallowed. "By… the forest?"
"By something that speaks through the forest."
She hugged her knees. "It called me 'little one.' Like it knew me."
Lin Chen crouched in front of her, voice low and steady.
"It does," he said. "But knowing doesn't mean owning."
He raised his hand.
A thin layer of controlled pressure wrapped around Xiao Wu—not suppressive, but anchoring, like a firm hand keeping her from drifting.
Her breathing slowed almost instantly.
"The seal you carry wasn't meant to last forever," Lin Chen continued. "It was meant to last until you were strong enough to choose."
Xiao Wu looked at him. "Choose what?"
"Whether to remember," he replied. "Or to rewrite."
She stared at him.
"…Can I really do that?"
Lin Chen met her eyes.
"Yes," he said. "Because you're not alone this time."
The system chimed again.
[Temporary Stabilization Applied][Seal Reinforcement: +3%][Condition: Emotional Proximity Required]
Lin Chen frowned faintly.
Then, without hesitation, he pulled Xiao Wu into a light embrace.
Not tight.
Not possessive.
Just close enough.
Her body relaxed instantly, warmth seeping into the cold fear she hadn't realized she was holding.
"…Lin Chen," she murmured.
"I'm here," he said.
Far away, deep within the Star Dou Forest, an ancient existence opened its eyes fully.
"He interferes."
Another presence replied, amused.
"Then the game changes."
Back at Shrek Academy, Xiao Wu rested her forehead against Lin Chen's shoulder.
For the first time, the whispers retreated.
But the seal—
Had begun to count down.