Bian jolts awake, clawing out of her bedroll while gasping for breath. Her heart pounding in her chest, her face dripping with sweat.

“Same dream?” Ha Linh’s voice echoes in her mind, calm, but firm.

Catching her breath, “I don’t know if you can even call it a dream. It felt so vivid. Real. Do you think it could have been a memory? Something from my childhood?”

“Do you remember anything from before you joined the Orchids?” Ha Linh inquires, reserved, but curious nonetheless.

“No. And the Vipress never told me about how she found me either. Whenever I try to remember my past, it's all just a blur.”

Ha Linh tries to relate, “Maybe it’s a good thing. Not everything is worth remembering.”

Bian takes a moment, still exhausted from the dream, “Yeah, maybe you’re right…”

“Well, dwelling on it now won’t help us. Come on, we need to continue your training.” Ha Linh’s words ring in Bian’s mind.

After a moment, Bian steps out of her small tent, into a beautiful valley resting between towering mountains. The crisp morning air brushes against her skin, allowing her a bit of relief from the nightmares. She inhales deeply, trying to steady herself, shaking off the night before.

Closing her eyes, Bian raises her hands, moving with care. In the calmness of her mind, Ha Linh’s voice returns, steady. “Feel your energy within you. Let it flow. Let that familiar feeling anchor you.” Bian’s arms sweep in slow, deliberate arcs, her focus sharp as she follows Ha Linh’s words. “Now, find the heat of energy and guide it towards yours. Let the two become one... Slowly. Don’t rush.”

Bian’s hands shift, her movements precise—reminiscent of the young girl gently mixing water into dough. The memory of the dream lingers, her motions a reflection of that delicate balance.

But then, her brow begins to furrow as the two energies clash, sparking an imbalance and refusing to merge. Her movements grow stiff, jerky, as she struggles to regain control.

Ha Linh’s voice echoes once more, now with urgency, “Control it. Gently, but you must be in control.”

Easier said than done. As the harder Bian tries to control the two forces, the more chaotic the energy becomes. Her breath quickens, her grip faltering. Then, it snaps. The power surges violently through her, and with a pained gasp, she falls to her knees, blood splattering from her mouth.

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“You’re fighting it,” Ha Linh says, “We’ve been at this for weeks, but you’re still not letting our energy merge. Something is stopping you.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” Bian stands, pacing in the valley. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to bring our two energies together? Sure, controlling mine is easy. It’s like water. It’s calm. It’s second nature to me. But yours… Yours is different. There’s nothing but rage and fury. Threatening to consume. It’s like… trying to grab fire.”

Ha Linh counters, “Rage and fury is what you need right now. Your power is not enough. It’s only when you’re able to control the fire, will we stand a chance against the Coalition.”

Bian stops, her fists clenching at her sides. “And if I’m not careful your fire takes over. And it’ll destroy me.”

“Then don’t let it,” Ha Linh’s voice is unwavering. “You need to be stronger. Control the fire and it will not burn you.”

The two remain silent. So quiet that you can hear the wind whispering through the trees.

A beat. Ha Linh breaks the silence, “It’s okay. We still have time. Let’s take a break.”

“No, it’s fine. I can continue.” Bian raises her hands again and repeats the movements well into the night.

***

They’ve been training for weeks, pushing her limits, trying to find a balance between the two opposing forces. But no matter how hard Bian tries, Ha Linh’s fire still burns too hot, and the cold magic she’s always known feels as if it’s being melted away. A little part of Bian knows she needs to give into the fire and let it flow freely within her. She just can’t bring herself to trust it, to trust Ha Linh. Not after what happened at Song Yeun.

Morning comes slowly, the first rays of light hitting against her tent. Bian gathers her things, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in her bones as they prepare to leave.

By midday, they finally arrive at a small mountain village nestled at the foot of the Black Mountain Temple. It’s quiet, peaceful, the kind of place that feels far away from the complications of her past. The village is built across the mountainside, its wooden homes embedded into the rocks.

“Are you finally going to tell me why we’re here? Does this have anything to do with the double ax and bull symbol we found on Chout’s letters?” Bian questions.

Ha Linh doesn’t offer much of an answer. “I will tell you everything once we’re at the temple. For now, just think about sleeping in a nice bed for once.”

Bian, surprised by her suggestion, replies, “I didn't think a spirit would care about where they slept.”

“I don’t. I’m just tired of listening to you complain about it,” Ha Linh clarifies.

Bian takes another breath of her new surroundings, inhaling the gentle smell of pine trees and boar meat over fire. But even in the serenity of this place, she can’t shake the feeling that what haunted her wasn’t just a nightmare—it was a warning. And whatever lies ahead at the Black Mountain Temple, she’s not sure if she’s ready for it.