MASTERS OF DESTINY | Followers Written Novel

3. WUXIONG POV - The Collision of Hearts

"If only I had known, that fateful day, 
I would have grasped his hand, 

Pulled him back from the brink, 
Where shadows whispered secrets 
And the world swirled in chaos.
With every heartbeat echoing,
I'd have woven words like a net, 
Casting hope to catch his fall,

Turning sorrow into stillness, 
Transforming despair into dawn. 

But time slipped through my fingers, 
Like grains of sand in the wind, 
And I stood, a silent witness, 
As paths diverged, untraveled, 
And the weight of silence grew. 

If only I had seen, 
The tremor in his voice, 
The flicker of doubt in his eyes, 
I would have crossed oceans of doubt, 
Bridged the charms of unspoken fears. 
Yet, in that moment of hesitation, 
I was a ghost in the machine, 
A fleeting shadow of what could be, 
And now, the echoes linger, 
Haunting the spaces between us. 

If only I knew, 
I would have stopped him that day, 

And rewritten the story, 
To hold the ight that he needed, 
To save a soul lost in the fray."

Cit. Zhemin

[FADE IN]

SOLAR REALM

- IMPERIAL PALACE -

INT. EMPEROR'S PRIVATE CHAMBER

NIGHT

The Solar Realm's imperial palace is a breathtaking blend of celestial elegance. Golden scrolls depicting constellations unfurl across the walls like a star-studded tapestry, shimmering in the soft hues that fill the room. Flames flicker through stained glass windows, casting vibrant patterns on the marble floor that dance with the playful breeze. Yet, despite the beauty surrounding him, WUXIONG feels the weight of an unseen chain binding him to the ground, heavy with frustration and confusion as he stands before his brother, ZHEMIN.

"What do you mean by 'We'll see, it might'? Can't you just speak plainly, like a normal Solar being?" WUXIONG's voice breaks, tension lacing each word.

Memories of laughter shared in carefree days flood his mind—sun-drenched afternoons under the gentle glow of lanterns, where every whispered secret wove them closer together. Now, those memories feel tainted by the bitter rift that has opened between them.

"I'm not forcing you to understand me, Wuxiong," ZHEMIN replies, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm brewing in WUXIONG's heart. "You're my brother; I only want what's best for you."

"It feels like the opposite!" WUXIONG snaps, his breath hitching. The warmth of shared adventures twists into a sense of solitude, echoing painfully in his chest.

"You're always a riddle wrapped in a mystery! I can't keep guessing what you're thinking." His frustration hangs heavy in the air, a palpable tension that threatens to shatter their bond.

"Then go. Find a better place for your endless questions," ZHEMIN retorts, his patience wearing thin, like the fragile thread of their connection unraveling before him.

WUXIONG's heart races, anger and fear churning within him, twisting like storm clouds gathering on the horizon.

"And here I am! The Master warned us, and you—ugh! You don't even seem bothered!" Each word is a dagger, aimed at the stoic facade ZHEMIN wears, seeking to pierce the walls he's built.