CHAPTER 1

In the quiet depths of an ancient temple, Bian Ong Ma lies crumpled on the cold stone floor, her body bruised and broken. What once must have been a magnificent structure now lies in ruins. Shattered statues of dragons and lions stand as grim reminders of what has been lost—and what Bian is about to lose. She knows she is going to die here. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth, and the echo of dripping water reverberates through the cavernous space.

Bian struggles to steady her breath, but the weight of complete darkness presses down on her, a relentless reminder of the brutal attack that left her and her companions trapped in this forsaken place. Lying in the shadows, she clings to the warmth of another survivor, Mai Ly. Together, they hold on to each other, their whispers barely audible in the stillness, comforting each other in what may be their final moments.

"Anyone alive out there?" Bian calls out in desperation. In the emptiness, no one answers.

Flashes of the battle race through her mind—a whirlwind of chaos combined with the screams of her friends as they’re cut down in the darkness. Bian's heart aches for them. In her delirium, she calls out for help once more, her voice barely a whisper in the shadows, echoing against the stone walls. “Please... we need help.” Silence answers.

Holding onto Mai Ly, she whispers, “It’s going to be okay, Mai. Someone will find us…” Even if she doesn’t believe her own words, she has to say it. But it’s too late—Mai is gone.

Amidst her weary state, Bian notices a flicker of movement. At first, she thinks it’s a figment of her imagination, a hallucination brought on by the lack of oxygen clouding her mind. But the figure solidifies—a woman draped in flowing robes of shimmering gold, her features ethereal. 

Even in her half-conscious state, Bian recognizes the figure. How could she not? It is Ha Linh, the legendary hero of Anh Sang, the capital city, and the first Ma Thuat Tech. Ha Linh's spirit floats toward her.

"Stop crying! I’ve been trapped here for a hundred years and haven’t shed a tear." Ha Linh’s voice rings out like a bell, commanding yet far from what Bian expects from the spirit of an ancient hero. "Tears aren’t going to help you now, child."

Bian's breath quickens as realization dawns. "You… you really are Ha Linh!” A nervous, disbelieving laugh escapes her lips. “I must be dead if I’m seeing ghosts."

Ha Linh scoffs at Bian’s despair. "My first visitor in years, and it’s a whiny little girl. Do us both a favor—hurry up and die like your pathetic friends, so I don’t have to hear your moaning any longer. Or perhaps I could absorb some of their energy and free myself.”

Bian’s pain ignites a moment of rage. “Don’t you dare! Stay away from them!”

Ha Linh raises her hands in mock excitement. “Finally! Some emotion! Some rage! Now that we can work with. And here I was beginning to think you were useless.”

“What are you talking about? Aren’t you a spirit of the afterlife here to whisk us away?” Bian asks, fighting to keep her voice steady despite the pain.

“Is that really what you want, child? Do you want me to lead you to heavenly bliss?”

Bian hesitates, wincing through the agony. “No…”

“Hmm, what was that? I can barely hear you over the sound of your friends’ spirits leaving us,” Ha Linh taunts, her words piercing like daggers.

The rage within Bian surges, boiling over. “No! I want to live! I want to get out of here! And I want to destroy every last one of the Quis! If you’re not going to help, then please leave me alone!”

A ghostly smile flickers across Ha Linh’s lips. “That, I can help you with. Alone, you are powerless, weak, sad, really. But your pain, your thirst for revenge, that drew me closer. Together, we can awaken the fury within you. Take my hand; become my vessel. With me, you will have the power of a goddess. We will find your killers, and you will help me get my justice by striking down the Coalition that betrayed me.”

Bian feels a flicker of hope at the thought of fusing with the spirit of Ha Linh. To become a vessel for a legendary hero—her power, her wrath, her peerless skill. "Is that something I can handle?" 

The question weighs on her mind.

Images of her fallen sisters flash through her thoughts: Cam Tu and Luan cut down in front of her, Mai Ly’s desperation as she pushed Bian to safety. If only Bian had been faster, stronger... better. She could have saved them. With Ha Linh’s power, she could be all of that. More. A beacon of strength, not just for herself, but for the future of those still fighting.

Bian lets the thought linger, until at last she nods, her voice determined. “I accept.”

Ha Linh's spirit shimmers with approval, and as their essences merge, Bian feels a surge of energy flow through her… followed by agonizing pain. Her screams echo throughout the chamber. Her body feels as if it’s being ripped apart, lit on fire, and squeezed by razor thin wires, struggling to maintain the spirit within. The darkness of the temple begins to shift, the shadows retreating as Ha Linh infuses her with the knowledge of the ancient Ma Thuat Tech deep within Bian’s mind. After a moment, Bian’s body lies still... barely alive, but alive, fighting to stay conscious. “Luan? Cam? Mai Ly? Is that you?”

CHAPTER 2

The Orchid Academy was originally created by the Coalition to honor Ha Linh’s great sacrifice. Over time, it became a refuge for young girls who lost their families, training and empowering them to become a new generation of powerful female Ma Thuat Techs. Funded and supplied directly by the Coalition, the Orchids are sent on missions to protect the surrounding villages, dealing with bandits, civil disputes, and even the rare encounter with other Ma Thuat Tecs.

During a beautiful, sunbaked afternoon, the academy courtyard is vibrant with the sounds of laughter and clashing metal. A younger Bian, filled with hope and ambition, trains alongside her peers—Luan, Cam Tu, and Mai Ly—unaware of the misfortunes ahead.

At first glance, you cannot tell that Luan and Cam Tu are not blood-related. Their movements and fighting styles mirror each other so perfectly that anyone would think they were twins fighting side-by-side. And Mai Ly always exuded a kind smile, one so infectious that you can’t help but smile back, even after she had just finished beating you in a match. 

Bian and Mai Ly are in the middle of their duel, each wielding silvery MaTech blades known as a Kiemloung. Together, they practice channeling their magic into the crystals embedded in each blade. Mai Ly’s crystal glows with a deep verdant green, the wind swirling around her. Across the arena, Bian’s crystal radiates an iridescent blue, with cold air radiating from her body.

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Overseeing their training is an elderly woman, Tien Lam, her beautiful long white hair flowing in the breeze. Through her, the orphans of Orchid Academy are taught the art of writing, the beauty of poetry, and the power of martial arts—skills designed to empower the women who leave here and prepare them for the trials that lie ahead.

“Mai Ly, you’re leaving your left far too exposed. Don’t give your opponents any opportunities to strike!” Tien barks.

The two continue their match. Mai Ly does her best to follow Tien’s instructions, but Bian pierces through whenever she lets her guard down. After a series of attacks from Bian, Mai Ly falls to the ground, but Bian hesitates for a moment.

Tien calls out, “Enough! Bian, come to me.”

Luan and Cam mockingly tease her, “Oooh, looks like teacher’s favorite is in trouble.” Bian responds by crossing her index and middle fingers—a known expletive—at them. All in jest, of course.

Gathering her composure, she speaks to Tien. “Yes, teacher. You called?”

Tien, serious, asks, “Why did you stop attacking?”

Bian doesn’t know what her teacher wants to hear. “It was just a sparring match. Nothing serious,” she says, trying to play it off.

Tien, even more annoyed now, “If this had been a real match, would you have hesitated the same way? Would your opponent have given Mai Ly a chance?”

Bian knows the answer but she remains silent.

Tien, now addressing the group, continues, “I am training you girls to be some of the greatest warriors who wield magic and weapons at their whim—Ma Thuat Techs that can even rival Ha Linh. You must treat every training session like a real battle. I don’t want any of you getting hurt, but more than that, I don’t want you foolishly believing that your opponents will hesitate when given the chance to deal the killing blow.”

Before she can say more, a courier interrupts their training. He approaches Tien, clutching a letter. Bian watches as her teacher’s expression shifts, growing more rigid with each line, until it twists into a rage she has never seen on her usually calm face.

Tien calls out to the girls, “That’s enough for today. Everyone, get ready for supper.”

Bian and Mai Ly exchange glances as Luan approaches them. “Have we ever ended training early before?” They shake their heads.

Later that night, the dining room buzzes with hushed whispers, rumors swirling like the evening mist, all centered around a mysterious expedition. The excitement is palpable, with students leaning in close, eager to catch any hint of truth behind the conversations. Tien soon steps forward to confirm these murmurs: the eldest students from the Orchid Academy—Bian’s group—have been requested to explore the sacred temple of Ha Linh, the very site of the noble hero’s ultimate sacrifice 100 years ago.

A group of younger Orchids gathers around Bian.

“The story goes that Ha Linh and the Coalition–heroes who rallied behind her–gathered for a final push against the Quis. Unfortunately, they didn’t anticipate the ferocity of the monsters’ retaliation. Without hesitation, Ha Linh sacrificed herself to deal a devastating blow, and in her death, the Coalition was able to push back the Quis and—”

“Trap them once again in the shadow world,” Cam Tu jumps in, finishing the familiar tale with a teasing grin. “We all know the story,” she adds, poking fun at Bian.

Luan chimes in with a smirk, “Come on, it’s not Bian’s fault she’s a Ha Linh fangirl.”

Bian shoots back, “Whatever. You are too!”

Tian clears her throat, signaling for the girls to stop their chatter. She continues, “Entry into the temple has long been forbidden, its ancient halls sealed away due to sightings of Quis and corruption seeping from its walls. However, recent reports from academy scouts reveal a shift—the corruption has weakened just enough to allow experienced warriors to step inside. The goal of this expedition will be to retrieve a relic said to have belonged to Ha Linh herself—legendary bracers, rumored to be the key to her immense power.”

The girls continue their excited whispers.

Tien Lam drops an unexpected decision. “However,” she says firmly, “I have denied the request.”

Confused murmurs ripple among the students as Bian and her friends exchange bewildered glances. Their protests bubble to the surface, but Tien cuts them off, her voice calm yet unyielding. “The temple is still too dangerous for exploration. And we will not risk our lives for the whims of the Coalition. I will not speak on this any further.” She leaves.

“What’s the Coalition?” a newbie Orchid asks the group.

Mai Ly brings her in, “Come, let big sis Mai Ly educate you. The Coalition is a group of noble families who originally founded Anh Sang alongside Ha Linh. Some of them have split off, but a majority of the original members still hold power. Rumors are that they tapped into some sort of ancient magic that helps slow the aging process.”

The girls continue their objections well into the night, but Tien refuses to budge.

Later that evening, a different conversation takes place, away from the disapproving ears of their teacher. Dissatisfied with the decision, Bian and her closest friends gather in her room, the flickering light of a single lantern casting long shadows as they debate the situation. Luan and Cam Tu are nearly giddy at the thought of defying orders, their eyes bright with the idea of stepping into the legendary temple of a great hero. Meanwhile, Mai Ly, ever the cautious elder sister figure, folds her arms in disapproval.

“Teacher is right,” she declares, her voice steady. “The temple is still far too dangerous.” She pauses, her eyes scanning her friends, driving home the point. “And what about the Quis? We’ve never faced creatures like that before.”

The origins of the Quis remain a mystery, lost in the mists of time. Initially nothing more than cautionary tales whispered by parents to keep children in line, they have since become all too real. The Quis are monsters born from shadows, with three sickly yellow eyes glowing as they watch their prey from the dark corners of forests. They move like nightmares, their eerie, chittering sounds haunting the night. Eyewitnesses describe them as large, wolf-like creatures with shadow-coated fur, but their long, crocodile-like snouts and sharp, jagged teeth set them apart from any ordinary beast. Their claws, long and sharp like a tiger’s, are made to tear flesh from bone. The Quis usually strike alone, but on rare, terrifying occasions, they hunt in small groups, though never more than two or three.

Bian, usually quiet, finally speaks up, her eyes gleaming with determination. “What if we went to explore the outside?” she suggests, barely concealing her excitement. “It wouldn’t be a full expedition, just a quick survey of the area. We could even return with useful information. That wouldn’t go against teacher’s orders, right?”

Her words hang in the air, met with hesitant glances. But one by one, the group begins to nod. Even Mai Ly, though reluctant, eventually gives in. “Alright,” she sighs. “But we better be prepared. I’m talking rations, weapons, and especially torches. Just a quick peek around the temple. Nothing more. And then we leave.”

Despite the dangers that could await them, the girls can’t contain their enthusiasm. Their voices fill the night as they plan, talking eagerly well into the early hours.

The day of the expedition arrives with the cool, crisp air of morning dew as Bian and her friends sneak off toward the temple. Their resolve is firm: just a quick look, nothing more. As they travel—mostly by walking and occasionally by magic-infused carriages—past wide fields of rice where farmers gather to start their day, and through a forest of lush bamboo that blocks just enough of the sun to keep them cool, the excitement swells in their hearts.

Finally, as the day unfolds and the looming silhouette of the temple appears on the horizon, the prospect of being the first to step foot inside in over a century becomes too tempting to resist.

When they arrive, the ancient structure stands before them, as if calling their names. Its weathered stone walls are lined with cracks and wrapped in vines, and the sight of the grand entrance fills them with awe. Bian, with her heart pounding in her chest, steps forward, her pulse racing. She casts a glance over her shoulder at her friends, all of them mirroring her excitement. Together, they take their first steps inside, venturing deep into the unknown.