**Season 2, Episode 2: The Tides of Mourning**

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In the quaint town of Vientiane, the aftermath of the magical battle was felt most poignantly in the home of Khang's family. The sudden and mysterious disappearance of Khang on the Mekong River, followed by the grim discovery of his body, had left his family grappling with unbearable grief. As they prepared for the funeral, the echoes of their loss reverberated through the walls of their ancestral home.

**The False Narrative**

The episode opens on a somber note as Khang's parents receive the police at their doorstep. The officers, under instructions from the Witch's Council, deliver a fabricated story-a tragic accident on the river, a boat capsized by a rogue wave, leading to Khang's untimely demise.

**Mother:** *(tearfully)* "But Khang was a strong swimmer... How could this happen?"

**Father:** *(stoically, masking his pain)* "The river is unpredictable, my dear. We must accept this bitter fate, however hard it seems."

As they discuss the arrangements, Khang's mother is inconsolable, clutching a photograph of her son, while his father retreats into a silent shell, the weight of unshed tears heavy in his eyes.

**The Return of the Prodigal Son**

Midway through the episode, the narrative shifts as Minh, Khang's older brother, returns from Australia. Freshly graduated and unaware of the recent tragedy, he steps into the family home to a scene of mourning, a stark contrast to the homecoming he had imagined.

**Minh:** *(shocked)* "What has happened here? Why is everything so... so gloomy?"

His parents break the news, their voices a blend of sorrow and resignation. As the story of the boat accident unfolds, Minh's expression turns from shock to skepticism.

**Minh:** "Khang hated boats. He would never just go out on the river like that. Something isn't right here."

**Family Funeral**

The funeral scene is a poignant display of the community's respect and the family's anguish. Khang's friends and relatives gather under white tents, the air filled with the scent of incense and the somber melody of traditional mourning songs.

Minh, standing apart, watches the proceedings with a furrowed brow, his mind racing with doubts about the official story. His unease grows when he notices several inconsistencies in the guests' accounts of Khang's last days.

**Discovering the Diary**

Later that night, driven by his suspicions, Minh rummages through Khang's room, where he stumbles upon Khang's diary hidden in a drawer. As he flips through the pages, Khang's innermost thoughts come to light-the struggles with his identity, his secret love for Thuan, and his fears of societal judgment.

**Minh:** *(reading aloud, voice breaking)* "I wish I could just be myself, without fear, without hiding. Thuan, you are my solace, my hidden joy in this unaccepting world."

Minh's eyes well up with tears as he reads about the love and battles his brother faced in silence. The diary becomes a window into Khang's soul, revealing depths of emotion and conflict Minh had never fully understood.

**Confrontation with the Past**

Motivated by the diary's revelations, Minh decides to seek out Thuan, hoping to find answers and perhaps understanding what truly happened to Khang. The episode builds to a suspenseful climax as Minh drives to Thuan's house, only to find it eerily quiet.

**Minh:** *(knocking, then peering through the window)* "Where is everyone? Thuan, Aunt Trang, anyone here?"

A neighbor, noticing Minh's confusion, approaches with a cautious look.

**Neighbor:** "They left in a hurry yesterday, something about a family emergency. Didn't say where or when they'd be back."

**Cliffhanger Ending**

The episode ends with Minh standing alone in front of the empty house, Khang's diary in hand, his mind swirling with questions and the ghost of his brother's secrets haunting his thoughts. As the screen fades to black, a mysterious figure watches Minh from a distance, their presence a silent promise of deeper intrigues and revelations yet to come.

**Minh:** *(to himself, resolute)* "I'll get to the bottom of this, Khang. I owe you that much."

The emotional weight of the episode, centered on family healing and the personal journey of understanding, sets the stage for a season of uncovering truths and challenging the shadows of unspoken realities.

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