Kai reached for his own sword, gripping the hilt tightly as he pulled it free. The blade shimmered under the warm glow of the lanterns, its polished surface catching his reflection—a face caught between surprise and anger.
Damn it, Kai cursed himself. How could I have trusted so easily? This had to be a trap. They had attacked the mine, after all. And yet, something didn’t add up. Why gone though all the trouble just to kill him.
Kai held his weapon in a defensive posture, the blade raised before him. He and the man circled eachother, weapons ready, watching like predators. The red lantern light shifted their shadows, making their movements feel like a slow dance. For a moment, both stopped. Kai waited for the man to strike, but it seemed the man was waiting for him as well.
Then, the calm on the man’s face melted into impatience. Without warning, he lunged forward, his sword thrusting straight at Kai.
Kai was ready. He had already felt the familiar warmth spreading through his hands and feet—the liquid inside him awakening. He feigned a dodge to the left, drawing the man’s sword slightly off course, then spun sharply to the right. The man’s blade sliced through empty air, and Kai used his momentum to swing at the man’s exposed side.
But the man’s reflexes were astonishing. Despite the heavy armor, he moved with grace and speed. He twisted his wrist, flipping the sword upside down to intercept Kai’s strike. The blades clashed, a sharp ring echoing through the air as steel met steel. Sparks danced briefly before Kai pulled his blade back.
Kai pressed the attack, keeping the man on the defensive, but his lack of skill with the straight sword quickly showed. Each swing felt unfamiliar in his hands, the weight different, the balance strange. For all his speed and strength, he lacked technique. His hesitation was brief, but it was enough.
The man recovered, twisting his body fluidly, his blade rising back into position. In an instant, the table had turned. Kai realized that this fight was far from over.
The man attacked again, intending to overwhelm Kai. He swung his sword in rapid motions, shifting angles with each strike—high, low, sweeping, thrusting. Kai deflected each blow, his arms straining from the force, his steps moving instinctively to create distance. He adjusted his stance, shifting his blade to parry and redirect, desperately looking for an opening.
Kai frowned as he observed the man’s strikes more closely. Each swing was controlled and deliberate, yet something felt restrained, almost… simple. The man was holding back, Kai realized.
The duel intensified, each clang of metal on metal resonating through the lantern-lit pathway. Sparks scattered with every strike, and Kai’s movements grew sharper as his body adapted to the rhythm of the man’s attacks. He began to see the pattern—the precision in the strikes, the way the man moved his body to transition fluidly between offense and defense. Kai adjusted his form to match it, mimicking the man’s footwork and deflecting with smaller, more economical movements.
The clash of swords sent one lantern flying onto the stone path. The flames sputtered out, plunging part of the corridor into shadow. Another wild swing—this time from the man—caught a lantern’s edge, dimming more of the light. The path grew darker, the glow from the remaining lanterns now fragmented and uneven.
Kai used the dim light to his advantage. When the man lunged with a cut, Kai fainted a thrust aimmed for the man's
chest, and forced the man into defense. With his momentum, he swung his blade in a wide arc toward the man’s exposed side. The strike connected, glancing off the man’s red armor with a shower of sparks. The sword didn’t penetrate, the armor was too thick—but the force staggered the man momentarily.
Before Kai could capitalize on the opening, the man recovered with shocking speed. With a blur of motion, he twisted and swung his blade in a precise counterattack. Kai’s parry was too slow, and the man closed the gap, his blade stopping just inches from Kai’s throat.
Kai froze. The cold steel hovered at his neck, unyielding yet not biting. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. He expected pain, death even, but the blade remained still.
In the fractured light, Kai caught his reflection on the sword’s polished surface. His expression was a mixture of shock and defiance. And his eyes. They glowed faintly, a soft, pulsing blue that pierced the surrounding darkness.
The man’s gaze lingered on Kai’s eyes, his face unreadable. The silence stretched on, heavy and unnerving, as if the man had found exactly what he was looking for. The duel was over, but Kai had the distinct feeling this had never been about victory.
"Gou le!" A soft feminine voice said, "enough."
Kai looked past the man in armor and saw a small woman standing just beyond the now open gate.
Her presence was commanding despite her size. Age was etched clearly on her face, yet her dark eyes were sharp, and her expression radiated kindness. She reminded Kai of his own grandmother, but there was something regal about her—something more.
The woman wore a flowing robe made from the smoothest material he had ever seen. It shimmered faintly under the dim sky light, as though woven with threads of moonlight itself. The fabric draped elegantly over her small frame, the long sleeves billowing gently with her every movement. Rich hues of deep red and gold adorned the robe, intricate patterns of unknown mythical beasts of both land and sky embroidered across the surface, radiating power, wisdom, and prosperity.
The hem of her robe trailed the ground, trimmed with delicate golden thread that reflected the light like fireflies dancing along the edges. A sash, tied perfectly at the waist, was made of darker silk, from which hung a jade ornament that glimmered softly. It was a subtle but undeniable sign of wealth and heritage. Despite her age, she stood straight, radiating authority, every thread and stitch in her attire declaring her status.
Kai couldn’t take his eyes off her cloth. He had never seen anything so refined—it was a testament to both power and her culture.
This must be Mama Mo.
"It's nice to finally meet you. Now come close and let me take a closer look at you, Kai," Mama Mo said with a smile. With a snap of her fingers, the night sky shifted into daylight. Kai blinked as the surroundings transformed—he could hear birds chirping faintly in the air. The lanterns on the floor vanished alongside the rest of the scenery, replaced by a simple, yet elegant room filled with redwood furniture and traditional decorations. It exuded a serene beauty, understated but regal.
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The armored guard stepped forward and began removing his armor. To Kai's surprise, it was none other than Baiyan under disguise. He smiled at Kai approvingly.
"Congratulations on passing the test," Baiyan said.
"But... I lost the duel," Kai replied, still unsettled. He remembered the cold blade resting at his throat.
Baiyan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "The duel was not meant to test if you could defeat me," he explained. "It was to see if you are truly the one chosen by the heavens. Tian Xuan Zhi Ren, as we call it—the Heaven-Appointed One. Winning the fight was irrelevant."
Kai's eyes narrowed, he was not happy with the defeat.
Baiyan’s expression softened as he gave a slight nod. "You were the first to strike me. If not for the armor, I would’ve had a scar to match my brother’s." His smile widened, half amusement, half pride. "You carry something inside you—something even you haven’t fully understood yet. That was the real test, and you passed."
Mama Mo stepped closer, her eyes kind but probing, as though searching for something beyond Kai’s flesh and bones. "You are far more than you realize, young one," she said softly. "In time, the heavens will reveal your purpose. But for now, let us talk, for you must have questions, and I may have answers."
Indeed, Kai had a lot of questions on his mind. He sat down across from Mama Mo on a wooden chair, his hands resting on his knees as he tried to settle his nerves.
"Cha," Mama Mo said to Baiyan softly.
Baiyan bowed, then quietly disappeared from the room.
"I can still sense that you are a little nervous, Kai. Please don’t be," Mama Mo said with a warm smile. "It will take some time to explain things, and I’m sure we will come to an understanding by the end."
Kai nodded, though his heart still pounded in his chest. The events leading him here—discovering the buried ship, the mysterious words of Commander Yang, and now the duel—still swirled in his mind.
Baiyan returned moments later, carrying a fine china teapot and cups. The style of the set was intricate and unfamiliar to Kai, adorned with delicate patterns and glossy finish. Baiyan carefully placed them on the wooden table, a small tray underneath to steady the set.
He poured steaming liquid into the cups, the soft sound of the tea filling the silence. The fragrant aroma reached Kai’s nose—warm and earthy, yet faintly sweet. It reminded him of the herbal teas he had tasted back on Velmorra.
"Is this tea?" Kai asked, curious.
"Yes, indeed it is," Mama Mo said, a hint of pride in her voice. "This is pu'er tea. It will help with stress and fatigue—a remedy perfected by our ancestors."
Baiyan set two filled cups in front of them, carefully placing the teapot aside before bowing once more and leaving the room, leaving Kai and Mama Mo alone.
Kai hesitated for a moment, then picked up the cup. It was light in his hand, the porcelain warm to the touch. He took a small sip, the rich flavor spreading across his tongue, soothing and calming.
Mama Mo watched him, her expression gentle yet unreadable. "Now, Kai," she began, her tone calm, "ask your questions. I know you must have many."
---
Eliana sighed as she watched the workers restock the Black Swan, loading food and essential supplies up the rear ramp. It would take a while for them to finish, and this was the part of space travel fiction rarely talked about—the endless waiting before the next adventure. She didn’t mind the waiting itself. She’d been on the Black Swan before as a child and had grown used to it. What she couldn’t stand, though, was waiting for Kai to return.
It had been half a day since Kai left with Baiyan, a figure Eliana still didn’t fully trust. All she wanted was for him to come back safely.
“Thinking about Kai?” Teresa’s voice broke through her thoughts as she appeared beside her, holding two cups of tea. She handed one to Eliana with a knowing smile.
“Yeah,” Eliana admitted, taking the cup and returning a faint smile. She hesitated, debating whether to share her feelings with Teresa, but in the end, she decided to open up. “I can’t get Kai off my mind. I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but… he’s just different from all the other men I’ve met.”
Teresa’s smile widened. “I can see that, Eliana. And trust me, I think he feels the same about you.”
“I’m not so sure,” Eliana said softly, looking down at her tea. “He has so much on his mind. I don’t think he has time for someone like me.” She paused and blushed slightly. “We hugged the other night though.”
“Well, that’s something!” Teresa said with a grin, nudging Eliana gently. “That has to mean he cares about you, right?”
“I don’t know,” Eliana murmured. “I just… I feel like I’m standing still while he’s running toward something I can’t see.”
Teresa reached out and took Eliana’s hand, her tone turning more earnest. “Eliana, listen to me. If you think Kai’s the right one, don’t wait for him to figure it out. Men—they’re like children sometimes. Always distracted, always running around with their heads full of things they think are important. You’ve got to make your presence known.”
Eliana blinked and looked at Teresa, surprised.
“Train with him,” Teresa continued. “Stick by his side, drop hints if you have to. But most importantly, listen to your heart. If you care about him, don’t hold back. Trust me, the universe moves fast, and there will always be someone out there willing to say what you’re too afraid to. You don’t want to lose him because you waited too long.”
Eliana stared into her tea for a moment, Teresa’s words echoing in her head. Slowly, a small smile tugged at her lips. “You’re right,” she said softly, more to herself than to Teresa. “I just need to show him how much I care.”
Teresa patted her hand. “Exactly. You’ve got this, Eliana. You got more in you than you think.”
---
Kai thought carefully about what he wanted to ask. Mama Mo was right—there were so many questions swirling in his mind, he didn’t know where to begin. Finally, he decided to start with the elephant in the room, the event that set everything in motion.
“Why did the True Kin attack the mine?” Kai asked simply, his voice direct, carrying a slight edge of hostility.
Mama Mo met his question with a kind, knowing look. Her smile was gentle as she countered with a question of her own. “Kai, what do you think the True Kin is?”
Kai didn’t hesitate. “So far, I think it’s an organization willing to kill innocent people just to find an answer.”
Mama Mo didn’t flinch at his bluntness. Instead, her smile softened, and she nodded slowly. “And you would be right. But there is more to it than you realize.”
Kai saw a glimmer of something in her eyes—something deep and profound. It wasn’t just an answer she was about to give; it was something that touched the very core of her soul, a truth buried in pain.
Mama Mo took one more sip of tea, her lips trembling ever so slightly—a brief moment of hesitation, as though she were preparing to release a secret far greater than herself.
The room began to shift, the holographic scenery melting away around them. Kai’s breath caught in his throat as the walls vanished, replaced by an open horizon. It was so real, it felt like stepping into the simulations he had experienced with Eliana, only on a far grander scale.
The environment transformed into something Kai had never seen before. They were no longer in a dimly lit room but sitting on a pristine beach. The vast, shimmering blue ocean stretched endlessly before them, waves gently lapping at the shore. Behind them, a field of lush, green grass swayed softly in the breeze under an endless expanse of clear blue sky. Birds soared high above them, calling to each other as they dipped and circled in the air.
Kai looked down. The sand beneath his feet was soft, finer than the red sands of Drakmoor, and warm against his touch. He moved his foot and watched as grains scattered, the sensation strangely grounding. The air here was dense, salty, and damp—unfamiliar, yet oddly comforting.
Across from him, Mama Mo sat as she had before, the flicker of a campfire between them, its light crackling and dancing against the idyllic backdrop. She turned her gaze toward the horizon, then back to Kai, her expression solemn.
“This,” Mama Mo said softly, her voice carrying a reverence Kai had never heard before, “is Earth—the place where it all began.”