The young master sprinted towards James, setting his blazing sword in a corner near the man. James lay face-first on the ground, a blanket of dust from the wall into which the vampire had thrown him covered his black shirt. Sun Tie placed a hand on his neck, but faint grunts emanated from James's throat before he could check for a pulse.

“You're alright then, big man,” Sun Tie said, relieved, and sat beside James as he slowly sat up, one hand clutching his head. A grimace of pain marred his face.

“Did I help?” he asked, his voice husky.

“You didn’t fumble, I’ll give you that,” Sun Tie said with a smile, “Glad you’re alive, but that was reckless. You should’ve stayed with Sofia.”

“Probably,” the priest admitted, his eyes moving past Sun Tie’s shoulder to lock onto the monster’s body on the ground. The black corpse lay there, limbs askew and head far from its torso. “I see you handled everything.”

“Yes, of course I did. Did you have doubts?” Sun Tie asked, standing quickly, taking offense at James's statement.

“Vampires in the middle of dark caves? Yes, I had doubts,” James replied, rubbing his forehead and looking up at the young master.

“For a priest, you lack faith,” Sun Tie retorted, aiming for a joke. But James looked down grimly, then looked up again with a huge smile. Sun Tie was sure the man was faking it.

“Hard to have faith when suddenly vampires who feed on children are a real thing.”

“Why are you and Sofia so afraid? They were just big bats in the end. Evil, for sure, but nothing more,” Sun Tie said, extending a hand to help James get up.

“Vampires only exist as a myth on Earth. For all I can see, they are real on this other planet, Umbraheim.”

“You seem to be the least prepared for all this,” Sun Tie replied. “My people can cultivate Qi; these monsters from Umbraheim feed on blood and mana, but what can you Earthlings do that's so different?”

“I have no idea,” James replied promptly, not prolonging the conversation. “I know that boy needs help.” The priest pointed to the kid at the corner with whom Cole was talking.

“Yes, he needs it. Can you escort him away from the cave? I need to speak with Cole,” Sun Tie said, patting James on the shoulder, the light from the blade slowly fading away.

“For sure.” James walked towards Cole, and they exchanged some words. Then the priest walked with the kid, one hand slightly touching the boy’s shoulder in a gentle gesture of comfort.

As they passed Sun Tie, the boy stopped and held the young master’s hand.

“Thanks, mister,” the kid said, locking eyes with Sun Tie, his eyes full of joy.

“That’s no problem, little peasant. I needed to help that old fool over there, but I’m glad I helped you, too,” Sun Tie said, smiling.

“Are you coming to find my mother?”

Sun Tie looked at the boy and thought for a few seconds before replying.

“I need to see. We’ll talk more later, alright?” The kid smiled at Sun Tie as if he hadn’t just gone through a traumatic experience.

“Yes, sir! Thank you again.” Sun Tie nodded to the kid, and they went their way to the exit of the cave.

Cole was now walking towards Sun Tie, dressed in a strange black robe and adjusting his bow. The man extended his hand towards Sun Tie, and the young master shook it.

“You indeed saved my life again,” Cole said, a smile forming.

“Of course I did. That’s probably why the System put me close to you. The God knew you needed a caregiver.”

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Cole laughed hard at Sun Tie’s joke, as he had never done before. Sun Tie couldn’t control his laughter either, and he didn’t want to. They laughed for several seconds before they were able to talk again.

All the hatred Sun Tie had felt in the last hours dissipated amid the joy of being alive and sharing a laugh.

“Why didn’t you tell me what you were up to?” Sun Tie inquired as they stopped laughing.

“I knew you would insist on coming with me,” Cole replied, and Sun Tie smirked.

“Do me a favor. I have my own problems to attend to.” Cole raised his eyebrows in challenge. “But what would be the problem of me following you? I can’t see the connection.”

Cole remained silent for some time as if measuring his following words.

"Look, kid, there are some things about my past that I haven't quite resolved.” Some of them are now, after this whole mess, but still, there was a person that I deeply cared for—”

“Your brother?”

“Yes, him,” Cole cleared his throat, trying to release the words from his mouth. “I failed him.”

“I’m sure you are a great brother,” Sun Tie said, placing a hand on Cole’s shoulder, but the man just looked down.

“I wasn’t.” Cole looked up, and Sun Tie saw the man through the same lens he saw him inside the dungeon, holding his rune. Sun Tie saw an old, fragile man with a wounded heart, and the scene washed the young master’s heart with compassion. “All these risks I keep taking, it’s all an act. It was before and still is now.”

“You’re a good person, Cole.” The old man gently removed Sun Tie’s hand from his shoulder and continued,

“No, I’m not, but I’m glad I’m close to one,” Cole said, his face transforming as a smile from ear to ear. “I’m proud of you. What you did today was heroic. You put your pride aside and did what you needed to do.”

“Pff…” Sun Tie quipped, smiling. “I had no choice, old man.”

“Exactly! I saw a lot of men joining the force back in the day, and I know a good one when I see one — and you’re good,” Cole replied, patting Sun Tie’s shoulder. “I’m really proud of you.”

Like in the camp before, Cole’s words sank into Sun Tie, making him feel something he had never experienced. Trying not to be overwhelmed by the words, Sun Tie smirked and retorted.

“You have no reason to be. You were just in the way of my objective. An objective I’ll keep following right now,” Sun Tie said, turning his back. “My sword will soon extinguish its flames, and I don’t like to walk in the dark again.”

“Wait,” Cole said, and when Sun Tie turned to him, the man was holding a blue rune in the palm of his hands — the same rune he had earned in the dungeon.

“Oh, the reason for your little outrage in the dungeon. Are you ready to tell me what it is?” Sun Tie said, crossing his arms and waiting.

“It’s a [Remembrance Rune]. I can see Jackie when I look at it on a special day. Like a photo.”

“What’s a photo?”

“Doesn’t matter. I can see Jackie, and it is somehow comforting, but I don’t need it anymore,” Cole said, getting closer to Sun Tie. “I want to give this to you as a gift, a reminder of your true calling.”

“Which is?” Sun Tie asked, approaching the man and leaning toward the blue rock. Curiosity was taking over him.

“I think you’ll discover it along the way. And I want to be at your side when that happens. Can I help you in your quest?”

Sun Tie looked up to Cole, shock stamped on his face. The man was smiling with the corner of his mouth.

“What about ‘here’s where we part ways forever’?” Sun Tie asked, extending a hand in Cole’s direction in disbelief.

“I changed my mind—”

“And the whole ‘I need to do this alone’ thing.?”

“Kid…”

“Okay, old fool. I’ll give you the honor of following me. But you can keep your rune.”

“No, I insist you keep it.”

“Fine!” Sun Tie said, grasping the rune from Cole’s hand.

[Remembrance Rune]

+2 VIT

Effect: Look closely, and you’ll grasp the images of one's truest connection. This rune is a window to the soul and its desires.

Sun Tie read the description and looked closely at the rune, and to his surprise and despair, he saw nothing in its blue hue. Trying to remain stoic, Sun Tie equipped the rune and looked again at Cole.

“Thank you. Can we go now?” Sun Tie said, already turning his back, anxious to look at his status and messages. Before Cole could answer, the Young Master heard the message,

[Three Runes Equipped]

[Rune Bonding System Activated.]