After their meeting with Nestor, the group began preparing for the long journey ahead. The air was still heavy with grief, but determination burned quietly in their hearts.
Shin stood near the temple steps, his gaze falling upon a familiar black cloak and cape neatly folded beside his belongings. The fabric had been repaired—stitched carefully, lovingly. He ran his hand across it, feeling the faint warmth of Tyra's touch.
He closed his eyes and whispered,
"Thank you, Tyra."
He fastened the cloak around his shoulders, the fabric fluttering in the cold wind. It felt like a piece of his past had returned to him—a reminder of the promise he now carried.
Meanwhile, Sam stood beside her younger brother, John. His eyes were red and swollen, his hands clenched tightly around the hilt of a small dagger Cromwell had once given him.
"I don't want to stay here," John said, his voice trembling.
"You're leaving me again. Mom and Dad are gone... and now you're going too."
Sam knelt in front of him, placing her hands gently on his shoulders.
"John, listen to me. I don't want to leave you either. But I have to. There's something I need to do—something Mom wanted."
John shook his head, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Then take me with you!"
Sam smiled sadly.
"You're not ready yet. You need to train with Master Nestor. He'll teach you how to fight, how to survive. Only then can you join me."
John looked down, his voice breaking.
"Promise me you'll come back."
Sam nodded firmly.
"I promise. When your training is done, I'll come back for you. That's a promise between siblings."
They embraced tightly, neither wanting to let go.
Nestor watched silently from a distance, his expression solemn.
"He'll be safe here," he said softly to Shin. "And when the time comes, he'll be ready."
Shin nodded.
"I trust you, Master Nestor."
The next morning, Shin and Sam began their descent down the mountain. The wind howled through the peaks, carrying with it the faint whispers of the departed. The path was treacherous, but they pressed on, guided by the faint glow of the rising sun.
After hours of travel, they reached the frozen lake Nestor had spoken of. At its center stood the Water Temple—an ancient structure half-buried in ice, its once-grand pillars now cracked and covered in frost.
They crossed the frozen surface carefully, their reflections shimmering beneath the ice. When they reached the temple's entrance, they could feel the faint hum of divine energy still lingering in the air.
Inside, the temple was silent. The walls were adorned with carvings of waves and sea creatures, and at the far end stood a statue of the Goddess Mei, her hands raised as if offering guidance.
Sam knelt before the statue, bowing her head. "Goddess Mei," she whispered, "please... show us the path."
Shin stood beside her, his eyes scanning the temple. Something felt off. The air was too still, too heavy.
He frowned. "Sam... wait."
Before he could say more, a faint hiss echoed through the chamber. Smoke began to pour in from the cracks in the walls, thick and gray.
Shin's instincts flared. He covered his mouth and shouted,
"Sam—it's sleeping gas!"
But it was too late. The smoke filled the room quickly, clouding their vision. Sam tried to stand, but her legs gave out. Shin reached for her, his vision blurring.
"Stay... awake..." he muttered, before collapsing beside her.
The temple fell silent once more.
Moments later, a figure stepped out from the shadows—a tall man wearing a tribal mask adorned with feathers and bone. His armor was light but reinforced with strange markings that glowed faintly in the dim light.
He looked down at the unconscious pair and chuckled.
"I can't believe it was this easy catching you, Shin."
He slung Shin over his shoulder and motioned to unseen figures in the mist.
"Let's move. The bounty's worth more if he's alive."
When Shin and Sam awoke, the world around them had changed.
The air was thick with the smell of smoke and metal. The sound of distant chatter and clanging chains echoed through the streets.
They were no longer in the frozen mountains.
They were in Hollowshade City—a sprawling underground metropolis built beneath the earth, where the sun never reached and the law was ruled by coin and blood.
Shin groaned, his wrists bound in enchanted cuffs that suppressed his energy. Sam stirred beside him, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.
"Where... are we?" she whispered.
Shin looked around, his expression darkening.
"Hollowshade City," he said quietly.
"The city of thieves and bounty hunters."
From the shadows, the masked man stepped forward, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Welcome to Hollowshade, Shin. You've been quite the elusive fella."
He tilted his head slightly, the faint glint of his eyes visible through the mask. "But now... you belong to me."