The rise&fall

The silence inside the tunnel was almost sacred, like the world outside had paused to let them breathe. Only the distant drip of water echoed against the stone. A single lantern burned low beside them, its glow casting trembling shadows across the worn walls.

Huwue sat against the cold stone, her legs drawn up to her chest. Her eyes, red from exhaustion, stared down at her hands — as if they were strangers.

Across from her, Leeyang sat quietly, his arms folded, sword resting on his shoulder.

He studied her for a long moment before asking softly, "That power you showed back there…"

She looked up slowly.

"…is that the reason they call you the cursed child?"

Her breath caught, but she didn't answer right away.

Then Leeyang added, more softly now, "I figured it out."

The words settled like dust in the air.

She turned her face away, eyes shining. When she spoke, her voice was a whisper lost in the stillness.

"I don't remember much. I was little. Six, maybe. I just… remember fire."

Leeyang listened without a word.

"I woke up one night. Everything smelled like smoke. My house was burning. My parents were inside. I was the only one who got out."

She took a deep breath, eyes fixed on the floor.

"After that… the village changed. They said I did it. That I burned them. That I was cursed."

She let out a bitter laugh. "They wouldn't let me touch anyone. Wouldn't let me play. Wouldn't let me talk unless spoken to. One time I smiled, and a kid ran crying to his mother."

Rangi looked up now, her expression softening.

"They told stories about me. Said if I got angry, I'd destroy the whole village. That even my tears were poison. I believed them. For a long time, I believed I wasn't supposed to be alive."

A silence followed.

Then Huwue added, almost too quietly to hear, "That's why I followed you."

Leeyang's eyes narrowed. "What?"

"I knew the Silent Fang were coming. I'd heard the rumors. I saw signs in the village days before I left. I knew they were after me."

She hesitated, guilt pressing her down.

"I didn't join you to help. I joined you because I thought... if I stayed close, maybe I'd survive a little longer. Maybe you'd fight for me without even knowing why."

Another pause.

"You don't have to keep doing that. I won't ask you to protect me. If you want to leave me here, I'll understand."

She looked up at them now, eyes full of quiet sadness.

"I'm tired of being someone else's burden."

A long silence passed between them.

Then Rangi shifted painfully and sat up straighter.

"You're a mess," she said.

Huwue flinched.

"But we're all messes. So no, we're not leaving."

Huwue blinked.

Leeyang nodded once. "You're one of us now."

Even Gogjen, leaning against the far wall, grinned through his fatigue. "One more cursed freak on the squad doesn't hurt."

That earned a tired laugh from Rangi. Huwue just stared at them in disbelief — not used to anyone standing with her.

Then something strange happened.

Gogjen's satchel glowed.

It was soft at first, a golden hue pulsing faintly. But then the light grew brighter — warm, vibrant, alive. He fumbled with the flap, pulling it open.

The crystal.

It floated upward without his touch, spinning slowly in the air. Its cracked surface began to mend before their eyes, and strange runes lit up along its edges.

"What the—" Gogjen whispered.

The tunnel filled with shimmering light. It wasn't harsh or blinding — it was gentle. Comforting.

Rangi blinked rapidly. "Is it… warm in here?"

The warmth surged through them like a breeze across their skin.

Her wounds — deep, aching bruises and slashes — began to knit themselves shut.

Huwue felt the cold seep out of her limbs. Her chest loosened. For the first time in hours, she breathed without pain.

Leeyang looked down at his hands — the scar from Xi was gone.

"What… what is this thing?" Rangi asked, voice trembling.

Gogjen held up his hands. "I didn't do anything!"

Leeyang rose to his feet, his shadow stretching toward the floating crystal. "That's not just a relic. It's not just reacting… it's listening."

The crystal slowly lowered itself into Gogjen's hands.

> "It's not me," he said.

"It's the crystal."

The light faded gradually, leaving behind the same dark tunnel — but now with clean air, healed bodies, and stunned silence.

Huwue stared at him. "Where did you even find that?"

Gogjen scratched his head. "It was just lying around… back in that ruin near Ember Vale. I thought it was shiny."

"You picked up a divine relic… because it was shiny?" Rangi groaned.

Gogjen grinned. "In my defense, I was half-conscious."

Leeyang stepped closer, squinting at the crystal. "It responds to us. Not just you. All of us. It healed because we stood together."

Huwue was still staring at her hands, whispering softly.

"I don't feel cursed right now…"

Rangi leaned back against the wall, her voice quieter now.

"Then maybe you never were."